Global Categorical Symmetries

Jun 6, 2022, 8:55 AM → Jun 17, 2022, 5:00 PM America/Toronto

Constantin Teleman (University of California, Berkeley), Ibrahima Bah (Johns Hopkins University), Julia Plavnik (Indiana University), Michele Del Zotto (Uppsala University), Theo Johnson-Freyd (Perimeter Institute & Dalhousie University)

Recently enormous progress has been achieved in our understanding of the notion of global symmetries of quantum field theories (QFTs). These developments sparked from the realization that global symmetries can be generalized in terms of a quasitopological subsector of the spectrum of defects of a given QFT. The defects in question have various possible codimensions and this gives rise to interesting fusion rules that generalizes widely the notion of groups. The interplay of these generalized global symmetries and phases leads to a categorical version of the Landau paradigm, which is tightly related to the classification of phases in terms of gapped topological theories and anomalies. The aim of this school and workshop is to set the foundations for further developments in these directions by establishing a common ground at the verge of the mathematics and physics involved.

This event is supported by the Simons Collaboration on Global Categorical Symmetries.

The first week of this event will consist of a conference, followed by a school in the second week. We plan for these events to be primarily in-person; participants may also choose to attend virtually. We continue to monitor the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and appropriate safety precautions will be in place. Pandemic-related regulations change rapidly, and the event will be held online if necessary.

PIRSA:  https://pirsa.org/C22008

 

 

Mon, June 6

9:00 AM Registration

1 Welcome and Opening Remarks

Speaker: Theo Johnson-Freyd (Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics)

2 Non-Invertible Symmetries in d>2

In this talk I will review some recent progress in the study of non-invertible symmetries in dimensions d>2. After introducing known constructions and describing how they lead to constraints on RG flows, I will discuss how non-invertible symmetries can also be used to obtain new RG flows. This involves the notion of non-invertible twisted compactification,” which can be used to construct e.g. novel 3d N=6 theories from 4d N=4 SYM. Finally, I will describe upcoming work in which we give a partial criterion for determining whether a given non-invertible symmetry isintrinsically non-invertible”, or whether it can be recast (in an appropriate sense) as a standard invertible symmetry with an anomaly.

Speaker: Justin Kaidi (Stony Brook University)

11:00 AM Coffee Break

3 Monodromy and derived equivalences

This will be an introductory discussion of our joint work with Roman Bezrukavnikov. Given a symplectic resolution X, one may study its Gromov-Witten theory and the monodromy group of the curve-counting functions in the K\"ahler variables. There is also a large group of derived autoequivalences of X coming from its quantization in large prime characteristic, as studied by Bezrukavnikov and collaborators. Conjecturally, the action of the latter group on K(X) is identified with the former group, and we prove this for many $X$.

Speaker: Andrei Okounkov (Columbia University)

12:45 PM Lunch

4 Lessons from SU(N) Seiberg-Witten Geometry

"Motivated by applications to soft supersymmetry breaking, we revisit the Seiberg-Witten solution for N=2 super Yang-Mills theory in four dimensions with gauge group SU(N). We present a simple exact Taylor series expansion for the periods obtained at the origin of moduli space, thereby generalizing earlier results for SU(2) and SU(3). With the help of these analytic results and others, we analyze the global structure of the Kahler potential, presenting evidence for a conjecture that the unique global minimum is the curve at the origin of moduli space.

Two applications of these results are considered. Firstly, we analyze candidate walls of marginal stability of BPS states on special slices for which the expansions of the periods simplify. Secondly, we consider soft supersymmetry breaking of the N=2 theory to non-supersymmetric four-dimensional SU(N) gauge theory with two massless adjoint Weyl fermions (""adjoint QCD""). The Seiberg-Witten Kahler potential and strong coupling spectrum play a crucial role in this analysis, which ultimately leads to an exploration of the adjoint QCD phase diagram."

Speaker: Emily Nardoni (Kavli Institute)

3:00 PM Coffee Break

5 Vertex algebras and self-dual Yang-Mills theory

I'll discuss a vertex algebra whose correlators are scattering amplitudes (and form factors) of self-dual Yang-Mills theory, for certain gauge groups and matter. The vertex algebra is a kind of vertex quantum group, and is a cousin of the affine Yangian. This is joint work with Natalie Paquette.

Speaker: Kevin Costello (Perimeter Institute)

Tue, June 7

6 Non-invertible Global Symmetries in the Standard Model

We identify infinitely many non-invertible generalized global symmetries in QED and QCD for the real world in the massless limit. In QED, while there is no conserved Noether current for the axial symmetry because of the ABJ anomaly, for every rational angle, we construct a conserved and gauge-invariant topological symmetry operator. Intuitively, it is a composition of the axial rotation and a fractional quantum Hall state coupled to the electromagnetic U(1) gauge field. These conserved symmetry operators do not obey a group multiplication law, but a non-invertible fusion algebra over TQFT coefficients. These non-invertible symmetries lead to selection rules, which are consistent with the scattering amplitudes in QED. We further generalize our construction to QCD, and show that the neutral pion decay can be understood from a matching condition of the non-invertible global symmetry.

Speaker: Shu-Heng Shao (Stony Brook University)

10:00 AM Coffee Break

7 Analytic Langlands correspondence over C and R

I will review the analytic component of the geometric Langlands correspondence, developed recently in my joint work with E. Frenkel and D. Kazhdan (based on previous works by other authors, including A. Braverman, R. Langlands, J. Teschner, M. Kontsevich), with a special focus on archimedian local fields, especially R. This is based on our work with E. Frenkel and D. Kazhdan and insights shared by D. Gaiotto and E. Witten.

Speaker: Pavel Etingof (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

11:45 AM Break

8 Hopf algebras play an analogous role in some topological and non-topological QFTs

A frequent theme in mathematical approaches to quantum field theory is being able to draw intuitive but rigorous pictures of particle interactions. For example, in theories like QED and QCD, Feynman diagrams can be organized into a Hopf algebra structure in such a way that models renormalization of Feynman integrals. One can draw an analogy with the role of Hopf algebras in (2+1)D topological quantum field theory, where in this second setting one can think of certain string diagrams as Feynman diagrams whose Witten-Reshetikhin-Turaev amplitudes are encoded by the representation theory of some (weak) Hopf algebra. This talk is intended to (1) be accessible to both mathematicians and physicians, (2) invite a dialogue about the meaningfulness of this analogy and (3) serve as an aperitif to the later talks.

Speaker: Colleen Delaney (Indiana University)

1:00 PM Lunch

Gong Show Presentations

3:45 PM Break

Gong Show Presentations

5:00 PM Wine & Cheese Reception

Wed, June 8

9 A (kind of) monoidal localization theorem for the small quantum group

" I will talk about a monoidal localization theorem for the small quantum group u_q(G), where G is a reductive algebraic group and q is a root of unity. In joint work with Julia Pevtsova, we show that the category of representations for u_q(G) admits a fully faithful tensor embedding into the category of coherent sheaves over a “quantum” flag variety. This quantum flag variety is, essentially, some finitely fibered space over the classical flag variety G/B. I will explain how this embedding theorem codifies certain relationships between the small quantum group and its quantum Borels.
"

Speaker: Cris Negron (University of Southern California)

10:00 AM Coffee Break

10 Symmetries from string theory

"It is possible to construct interesting field theories by placing string theory on suitable singular geometries, and adding branes. In the fairly special cases where Lagrangians are known for the resulting theories, field theory arguments often show that these theories have generalised symmetry structures. In this talk I will review recent work developing a dictionary, valid even in the absence of a known Lagrangian description, between properties of the string theory geometry and generalised symmetries of the associated field theories."

Speaker: Iñaki García Etxebarria (Durham University)

12:00 PM Lunch

11 Quantum Field Theory, Separation of Scales, and Beyond

"We will review the role of Quantum Field Theory (QFT) in modern physics. We will highlight how QFT uses a reductionist perspective as a powerful quantitative tool relating phenomena at different length and energy scales. We will then discuss various examples motivated by string theory and lattice models that challenge this separation of scales and seem outside the standard framework of QFT. These lattice models include theories of fractons and other exotic systems."

Speaker: Nathan Seiberg (Institute for Advanced Study)

3:00 PM Colloquium Reception

Thu, June 9

12 All unitary 2D QFTs share the same state space

"A unitary 1d QFT consists of a Hilbert space and a Hamiltonian. A group acting on a 1d QFT is a group acting on the Hilbert space, commuting with the Hamiltonian. Note that the data of an action only involves the Hilbert space. The Hamiltonian is only there to provide a constraint. Moreover, all 1d QFT have isomorphic Hilbert spaces (except in special cases, e.g. in the case of a 1d TQFT, when the Hilbert space is finite dimensional).

A unitary 2d QFT consists of the 0-dimensional and 1-dimensional part of the QFT, along with the data of the Stress-energy tensor. An action of a fusion category on a 2d QFT is again something where the data only involves the 0-dimensional and 1-dimensional part of the QFT, while the Stress-energy tensor is only there to provide a constraint. The upshot is that it makes sense to act on the 0-dimensional and 1-dimensional part of the QFT. Moreover, I conjecture that all 2d QFTs have isomorphic 0-dimensional + 1-dimensional parts (except in special cases, e.g. in the case of a chiral CFT)."

Speaker: Andre Henriques (University of Oxford)

10:00 AM Coffee Break

13 Knot categorification from homological mirror symmetry

"Khovanov showed in ‘99 that the Jones polynomial arises as the Euler characteristic of a homology theory. The knot categorification problem is to find a general construction of knot homology groups and to explain their meaning: what are they homologies of?

Homological mirror symmetry, formulated by Kontsevich in ’94, naturally produces hosts of homological invariants. Sometimes, it can be made manifest, and then its striking mathematical power comes to fore. Typically though, it leads to invariants which have no particular interest outside of the problem at hand.

I will explain that there is a vast new family of mirror pairs of manifolds for which homological mirror symmetry does lead to interesting invariants, and solves the knot categorification problem. "

Speaker: Mina Aganagic (University of California, Berkeley)

11:45 AM Break

14 Higher S-matrices and higher modular categories

"Every braided fusion category has a framed S-matrix pairing' which records the braiding between simple objects. Non-degeneracy/Morita invertibility of the category (akamodularity' in the oriented case) is equivalent to non-degeneracy of this pairing. I will define higher-dimensional versions of S-matrices which pair morphisms of complementary dimension in higher semisimple categories and sketch a proof that these pairings are non-degenerate if and only if the higher category is. Along the way, I will introduce higher semisimple categories and higher fusion categories and interpret these results in terms of the associated anomalous topological quantum field theories.

This is based on joint work in progress with Theo Johnson-Freyd."

Speaker: David Reutter (University of Hamburg)

1:00 PM Lunch

15 ’t Hooft anomalies of QFTs realized in string theory

String theory constructions allow one to realize vast classes of non-trivial quantum field theories (QFTs), including many strongly coupled models that elude a conventional Lagrangian description. ’t Hooft anomalies for global symmetries are robust observables that are particularly well-suited to explore QFTs realized in string theory. In this talk, I will discuss systematic methods to compute anomalies of theories engineered with branes, using as input the geometry and flux configuration transverse to the non-compact directions of the branes worldvolume. Examples from M-theory and Type IIB string theory illustrate the versatility of this approach, which can capture both ordinary and generalized symmetries, continuous or discrete.

Speaker: Federico Bonetti (University of Oxford)

3:45 PM Coffee Break

Fri, June 10

16 Non-Invertible Higher-Categorical Symmetries

I will discuss a proposal for generating non-invertible symmetries in QFTs in d>2, by gauging outer automorphisms. First this will be illustrated in 3d, where the framework is relatively well established, and then extended to higher dimensions. For 4d gauge theories, a comparison to other approaches to non-invertible symmetries is provided, in particular the map to gauging theories with mixed anomalies. This talk is based on work that appeared in 2204.06564 and in progress, with Lakshya Bharwaj (Oxford), Lea Bottini (Oxford) and Apoov Tiwari (Stockholm).

Speaker: Sakura Schäfer-Nameki (University of Oxford)

10:00 AM Coffee Break

17 Line Defect Quantum Numbers and Anomalies

I will consider four-dimensional gauge theories whose global symmetries admit certain discrete ’t Hooft anomalies that are intimately related to the (fractionalized) global-symmetry quantum numbers of Wilson-’t Hooft line defects in the theory. Determining these quantum numbers is typically straightforward for Wilson lines, but requires a careful analysis of fermion zero modes for ’t Hooft lines, which I will describe for several classes of examples. This in turn leads to a calculation of the anomaly. Along the way I will comment on how this understanding relates to some classic and recent examples in the literature.

Speaker: Thomas Dumitrescu (University of California, Los Angeles)

11:45 AM Break

18 TQFT's and flat connections

I will discuss some of the (higher) structure of TQFT's that can be deformed by flat connections for continuous global symmetries, focusing on examples coming from twists of 3d supersymmetric theories, and the manifestation of this structure in boundary VOA's.

Speaker: Tudor Dimofte (University of Edinburgh)

1:00 PM Lunch

Poster Session Presentations

3:30 PM Coffee Break

Poster Session Presentations

Mon, June 13

8:30 AM Registration

19 Welcome and Opening Remarks

Speaker: Theo Johnson-Freyd (Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics)

20 Introduction to Symmetries in Quantum Field Theory

Speaker: Kantaro Omori (University of Tokyo)

10:30 AM Coffee Break

21 Finite symmetry in QFT

Speaker: Dan Freed (University of Texas, Austin)

12:30 PM Lunch

22 Introduction to Anomalies in Quantum Field Theory

Speaker: Clay Cordova (University of Chicago)

3:00 PM Coffee Break

23 Lattice systems and topological field theories

Speaker: Mike Hopkins (Harvard University)

Tue, June 14

24 Introduction to Symmetries in Quantum Field Theory

Speaker: Dan Freed (University of Texas, Austin)

10:00 AM Coffee Break

25 Introduction to Symmetries in Quantum Field Theory

Speaker: Kantaro Omori (University of Tokyo)

12:00 PM Lunch

26 Introduction to Anomalies in Quantum Field Theory

Speaker: Clay Cordova (University of Chicago)

2:30 PM Coffee Break

Problem Session / Open Discussion

5:00 PM BBQ

Wed, June 15

27 Lattice systems and topological field theories

Speaker: Mike Hopkins (Harvard University)

10:00 AM Coffee Break

28 Finite symmetry in QFT

Speaker: Dan Freed (University of Texas, Austin)

12:00 PM Lunch

29 Introduction to Symmetries in Quantum Field Theory

Speaker: Kantaro Omori (University of Tokyo)

2:30 PM Coffee Break

Problem Session / Open Discussion

Thu, June 16

30 Introduction to Anomalies in Quantum Field Theory

Speaker: Clay Cordova (University of Chicago)

10:00 AM Coffee Break

31 Introduction to Symmetries in Quantum Field Theory

Speaker: Kantaro Omori (University of Tokyo)

12:00 PM Lunch

32 Lattice systems and topological field theories

Speaker: Mike Hopkins (Harvard University)

2:30 PM Coffee Break

Problem Session / Open Discussion

Fri, June 17

33 Finite symmetry in QFT

Speaker: Dan Freed (University of Texas, Austin)

10:00 AM Coffee Break

34 Lattice systems and topological field theories

Speaker: Mike Hopkins (Harvard University)

12:00 PM Lunch

35 Introduction to Anomalies in Quantum Field Theory

Speaker: Clay Cordova (University of Chicago)

2:30 PM Coffee Break

Problem Session / Open Discussion / Good-Bye