Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: We formulate the gravitational field on maximally symmetric spacetimes as a gauge theory, and investigate higher-form symmetries of the linearized gravitational field via a series expansion in Newton's gravitational constant. To treat gravity as a gauge theory, the MacDowell-Mansouri formulation based on Cartan geometry is utilized. We show the existence of a 1-form symmetry in linearized gravity on Minkowski spacetime. Furthermore, for other maximally symmetric spacetimes (de Sitter and anti-de Sitter spacetimes) with a small cosmological constant, we demonstrate the existence of an approximate 1-form symmetry in the corresponding linearized gravity, detailing its explicit dependence on the cosmological constant.
Source: arXiv (Cornell University)
Author: Kido, Natsuya
Language: English
Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7220710310