Global symmetry-breaking and generalized theta-terms in Type IIB EFTs
Abstract A longstanding conjecture states that global symmetries should be absent in quantum gravity. By investigating large classes of Type IIB four-dimensional N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2 effective field theories, we enlist the potential generalized global symmetries that could be present and explore...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Journal of High Energy Physics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP10(2023)154 |
| _version_ | 1827370583286874112 |
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| author | Thomas W. Grimm Stefano Lanza Thomas van Vuren |
| author_facet | Thomas W. Grimm Stefano Lanza Thomas van Vuren |
| author_sort | Thomas W. Grimm |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract A longstanding conjecture states that global symmetries should be absent in quantum gravity. By investigating large classes of Type IIB four-dimensional N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2 effective field theories, we enlist the potential generalized global symmetries that could be present and explore how they are avoided. Crucial ingredients that arise in such effective field theories are generalized θ-terms. These introduce non-linear couplings between axion fields and topological terms quadratic in the gauge field strengths which break a large subset of the global symmetries. Additional residual global symmetries may further be broken by assuming the existence of some charged states. However, we illustrate that the presence of generalized θ-terms leads to a generalized Witten effect, which implies that the spectrum of charged states is constituted by an infinitely populated lattice. We further show that such a lattice is generated by the action of the monodromy transformation that characterizes the moduli space boundary near which the effective theory is defined. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T10:17:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-514bcf8302a442c6b5a54ee68d646f90 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1029-8479 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T10:17:40Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of High Energy Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-514bcf8302a442c6b5a54ee68d646f902024-01-28T12:12:31ZengSpringerOpenJournal of High Energy Physics1029-84792023-10-0120231016010.1007/JHEP10(2023)154Global symmetry-breaking and generalized theta-terms in Type IIB EFTsThomas W. Grimm0Stefano Lanza1Thomas van Vuren2Institute for Theoretical Physics, Utrecht UniversityInstitute for Theoretical Physics, Utrecht UniversityInstitute for Theoretical Physics, Utrecht UniversityAbstract A longstanding conjecture states that global symmetries should be absent in quantum gravity. By investigating large classes of Type IIB four-dimensional N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2 effective field theories, we enlist the potential generalized global symmetries that could be present and explore how they are avoided. Crucial ingredients that arise in such effective field theories are generalized θ-terms. These introduce non-linear couplings between axion fields and topological terms quadratic in the gauge field strengths which break a large subset of the global symmetries. Additional residual global symmetries may further be broken by assuming the existence of some charged states. However, we illustrate that the presence of generalized θ-terms leads to a generalized Witten effect, which implies that the spectrum of charged states is constituted by an infinitely populated lattice. We further show that such a lattice is generated by the action of the monodromy transformation that characterizes the moduli space boundary near which the effective theory is defined.https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP10(2023)154Effective Field TheoriesGlobal SymmetriesFlux CompactificationsDiscrete Symmetries |
| spellingShingle | Thomas W. Grimm Stefano Lanza Thomas van Vuren Global symmetry-breaking and generalized theta-terms in Type IIB EFTs Journal of High Energy Physics Effective Field Theories Global Symmetries Flux Compactifications Discrete Symmetries |
| title | Global symmetry-breaking and generalized theta-terms in Type IIB EFTs |
| title_full | Global symmetry-breaking and generalized theta-terms in Type IIB EFTs |
| title_fullStr | Global symmetry-breaking and generalized theta-terms in Type IIB EFTs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Global symmetry-breaking and generalized theta-terms in Type IIB EFTs |
| title_short | Global symmetry-breaking and generalized theta-terms in Type IIB EFTs |
| title_sort | global symmetry breaking and generalized theta terms in type iib efts |
| topic | Effective Field Theories Global Symmetries Flux Compactifications Discrete Symmetries |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP10(2023)154 |
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