Nontrivial bundles and defect operators in $n$-form gauge theories
Abstract
In -dimensional -form nonabelian gauge theories, we classify nontrivial -form bundles in , which yield configurations of -branes wrapping -cycles in -branes. We construct the related defect operators , which are disorder operators carrying the charge. We compute the commutation relations between the defect operators and Chern-Simons operators on odd-dimensional closed manifolds, and derive the generalized Witten effect for . When is not exact, and can also combine into an electric -form global symmetry operator, where the -form is the Chern-Simons form. The dual magnetic -form global symmetry is generated by the charge. We also study nontrivial -form bundles in -dimensional -form nonabelian gauge theories, where the defect operators are . With the field strength of the -form taken as the flat connection of the -form, we classify the topological sectors in -form theories.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.2404.03406,
title = {Nontrivial bundles and defect operators in $n$-form gauge theories},
author = {Shan Hu},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2404.03406},
year = {2025}
}
Comments
33 pages + appendix. v2: 50 pages, added section 3.3, 3.4 and appendix A, C