English

Haagerup Symmetry in $(E_8)_1$?

High Energy Physics - Theory 2026-02-20 v2 Strongly Correlated Electrons Mathematical Physics Category Theory math.MP Quantum Algebra

Abstract

We suggest that the chiral (e8)1(\mathfrak{e}_8)_1 theory -- in many senses the simplest VOA -- may have Haagerup symmetry Hi\mathcal{H}_i for i=1,2,3i=1,2,3. Likewise, we suggest that the non-chiral (E8)1(E_8)_1 WZW model may have Hi×Hiop\mathcal{H}_i \times \mathcal{H}_i^\textrm{op} symmetry, and that gauging the diagonal symmetry gives a c=8c=8 theory with Z(H3)\mathcal{Z}(\mathcal{H}_3) symmetry, which is the theory predicted in \cite{Evans:2010yr}. Along the way, we show that (E8)1(E_8)_1 also has a Fib×Fibop\mathrm{Fib} \times \mathrm{Fib}^\text{op} symmetry, and that gauging the diagonal symmetry gives the (G2)1×(F4)1(G_2)_1 \times (F_4)_1 WZW model, explaining the well-known conformal embedding (G2)1×(F4)1(E8)1(G_2)_1 \times (F_4)_1 \subset (E_8)_1. Finally, we suggest a relation to theories with H3\mathcal{H}_3 symmetry at c=2,6c=2,6, complimenting the discussion with new modular bootstrap results.

Cite

@article{arxiv.2512.08225,
  title  = {Haagerup Symmetry in $(E_8)_1$?},
  author = {Jan Albert and Yamato Honda and Justin Kaidi and Yunqin Zheng},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2512.08225},
  year   = {2026}
}

Comments

13 pages, 4 figures; v2: references added

R2 v1 2026-07-01T08:16:06.737Z