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Spontaneously Broken $\bm{(-1)}$-Form U(1) Symmetries
by Daniel Aloni, Eduardo García-Valdecasas, Matthew Reece, Motoo Suzuki
This Submission thread is now published as
Submission summary
| Authors (as registered SciPost users): | Eduardo García-Valdecasas · Matthew Reece |
| Submission information | |
|---|---|
| Preprint Link: | scipost_202403_00019v3 (pdf) |
| Date accepted: | June 20, 2024 |
| Date submitted: | June 11, 2024, 9:35 a.m. |
| Submitted by: | Eduardo García-Valdecasas |
| Submitted to: | SciPost Physics |
| Ontological classification | |
|---|---|
| Academic field: | Physics |
| Specialties: |
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| Approach: | Theoretical |
Abstract
Spontaneous breaking of symmetries leads to universal phenomena. We extend this notion to $(-1)$-form U(1) symmetries. The spontaneous breaking is diagnosed by a dependence of the vacuum energy on a constant background field $\theta$, which can be probed by the topological susceptibility. This leads to a reinterpretation of the Strong CP problem as arising from a spontaneously broken instantonic symmetry in QCD. We discuss how known solutions to the problem are unified in this framework and explore some, so far {\em unsuccessful}, attempts to find new solutions.
Author indications on fulfilling journal expectations
- Provide a novel and synergetic link between different research areas.
- Open a new pathway in an existing or a new research direction, with clear potential for multi-pronged follow-up work
- Detail a groundbreaking theoretical/experimental/computational discovery
- Present a breakthrough on a previously-identified and long-standing research stumbling block
List of changes
We have modified the paragraph below eq. 2.13 to further clarify that the (-1)-form symmetry is gauged in the Schwinger model.
Published as SciPost Phys. 17, 031 (2024)