3 Zoom Lectures on Generalized Symmetries

by Lakshya Bhardwaj

Thursday 11 Jan 2024, 14:00 → 15:30 GMT

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These 3 Zoom lectures aim to provide a comprehensive and in-depth introduction to Generalized symmetries for a broad audience of high-energy physicists interested in the theory and possible application of new symmetries. It includes three 90-minute lectures scheduled for January 2024 from 14:00 to 15:30 UK time (15:00-16:30 CET), Jan 11th (Lakshya Bhardwaj on Higher-Form Symmetries and Confinement), Jan 18th (Ludovic Fraser-Taliente on Higher-form symmetries and anomalies), and Jan 25th (Arthur Platschorre on Non-invertible symmetries and Axions). The lectures are based on Phys.Rept. 1051 (2024) 1-87.

1st Lecture: 
 
Title: Higher-Form Symmetries and Confinement
Lecturer: Lakshya Bhardwaj (Oxford U.)

Abstract: The aim of this first lecture is to introduce the concept of generalized symmetries, with a focus on higher-form symmetries and pedagogical examples. We will see that these symmetries arise naturally in gauge theories, where they can be used to constrain their strongly coupled infrared behaviour. In this context, higher-form symmetries provide a Landau-type symmetry breaking description for confining and deconfining phases of gauge theories, with non-local order parameters detecting them. One can also have symmetry protected topological (SPT) phases protected by higher-form symmetries, which correspond to intricate confinement patterns like oblique confinement.

The recording of the 1st Lecture can be accessed via https://youtu.be/bF1Ptnxnw84