Note on higher-group structure in 6d self-dual gauge theory
Abstract
We analyze higher-group structure of a 6d model coupled with a self-dual 2-form gauge field. This model is defined from 6d axion-electrodynamics with a 1-form Chern-Weil(CW) symmetry gauged dynamically. The gauging leads to a Green-Schwarz-West-Sagnotti(GSWS) term, which gives rise to an anomaly through a GSWS transformation acting on the 2-form gauge field. We cancel this anomaly by gauging a 3-form CW symmetry in 6d axion-electrodynamics. We find out the global symmetries in the resultant model and derive the gauge invariant action in the presence of the background gauge fields. It is argued that a discrete 1-form symmetry is anomalous because turning on the associated background gauge field causes quantum inconsistency due to an operator-valued ambiguity. Higher-group structure in this model that is manifested as a Green-Schwarz-like transformation for CW background gauge fields is discussed.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2406.10518,
title = {Note on higher-group structure in 6d self-dual gauge theory},
author = {Tatsuki Nakajima and Kikyo Nakamura and Tadakatsu Sakai},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2406.10518},
year = {2024}
}
Comments
29 pages, v2: a reference added, v3: minor revision, two references added