Discrete and higher-form symmetries in SCFTs from wrapped M5-branes

Ibrahima Bah , Federico Bonetti , Ruben Minasian (1)

1 IPHT - Institut de Physique Théorique - UMR CNRS 3681

We analyze topological mass terms of BF type arising in supersymmetric M-theory compactifications to AdS$_{5}$. These describe spontaneously broken higher-form gauge symmetries in the bulk. Different choices of boundary conditions for the BF terms yield dual field theories with distinct global discrete symmetries. We discuss in detail these symmetries and their ’t Hooft anomalies for 4d $ \mathcal{N} $ = 1 SCFTs arising from M5-branes wrapped on a Riemann surface without punctures, including theories from M5-branes at a ℤ$_{2}$ orbifold singularity. The anomaly polynomial is computed via inflow and contains background fields for discrete global 0-, 1-, and 2-form symmetries and continuous 0-form symmetries, as well as axionic background fields. The latter are properly interpreted in the context of anomalies in the space of coupling constants.

Mots clés: Anomalies in Field and String Theories; Conformal Field Theory; Discrete Symmetries; M-Theory; symmetry: discrete; M-theory: compactification; orbifold: singularity; mass: topological; background field; Riemann surface; supersymmetry: 1; duality: holography; AdS(5) x S(5)

Domaines: Physique des Hautes Energies - Théorie [hep-th]

Ibrahima Bah, Federico Bonetti, Ruben Minasian. Discrete and higher-form symmetries in SCFTs from wrapped M5-branes. Journal of High Energy Physics, 2021, 03, pp.196. ⟨10.1007/JHEP03(2021)196⟩. ⟨hal-02914510⟩