English

K-theoretic Global Symmetry in String-constructed QFT and T-duality

High Energy Physics - Theory 2026-03-20 v3

Abstract

We propose that generalized symmetries in some string-constructed QFTs are given by K-theory. We thus have \textit{even-form} and \textit{odd-form} symmetries determined by KN(X)K_N(\partial X), the twisted K-theory as D-brane charges on the asymptotic boundary X\partial X of internal geometry XX with twist class NN. For these QFTs, ``\textit{pp-form symmetries}" are no longer separately well-defined for individual pp, but are instead mixed together. We discuss 6D ADE-type (2,0) SCFTs and some 6d (1,0) LSTs as examples and demonstrate their twisted K-theoretic symmetries, and we checked them to be compatible with T-duality. We further point out, through explicit examples, that K-theory leads to symmetry extensions that cannot be detected by cohomology for Type II string theory on certain orbifolds of C3\mathbb{C}^3 and C4\mathbb{C}^4. We also discuss the implications of these results in the dual brane descriptions.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2404.16097,
  title  = {K-theoretic Global Symmetry in String-constructed QFT and T-duality},
  author = {Hao Y. Zhang},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2404.16097},
  year   = {2026}
}

Comments

5 pages + supplemental material; v2: reference added, phrasing adjusted, and typos fixed; v3: 18 pages + appendices after major revision as requested by the referee, contents added on C^3 and C^4 orbifolds