Year: 2014
Type: article
Abstract: We consider coupling an ordinary quantum field theory with an infinite number of degrees of freedom to a topological field theory. On $ \mathbb{R} $ d the new theory differs from the original one by the spectrum of operators. Sometimes the local operators are the same but there are different line operators, surface operators, etc. The effects of the added topological degrees of freedom are more dramatic when we compactify $ \mathbb{R} $ d , and they are crucial in the context of electric-magnetic duality. We explore several examples including DijkgraafWitten theories and their generalizations both in the continuum and on the lattice. When we couple them to ordinary quantum field theories the topological degrees of freedom allow us to express certain characteristic classes of gauge fields as integrals of local densities, thus simplifying the analysis of their physical consequences.
Source: Journal of High Energy Physics
Authors: Anton Kapustin, Nathan Seiberg
Language: English
Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
Awards: G1073020130, G222768804, Programs on Critical Problems in Physics, Astrophysics and Biophysics at the Aspen Center for Physics, PROBLEMS IN THEORETICAL PHYSICS, THE WORK TO BE PERFORMED INCLUDES STUDIES IN QCD THEORY, LATTICE GAUGE THEORY, & HIGH ENERGY PARTICLE PHENOMENOLOGY; EXP, HIGH ENERGY PHYSICS
OpenAlex ID: W2092760676