Abstract
We investigate a higher-group structure of massless axion electrodynamics in (3 + 1) dimensions. By using the background gauging method, we show that the higher-form symmetries necessarily have a global semistrict 3-group (2-crossed module) structure, and exhibit ’t Hooft anomalies of the 3-group. In particular, we find a cubic mixed ’t Hooft anomaly between 0-form and 1-form symmetries, which is specific to the higher-group structure.
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Hidaka, Y., Nitta, M. & Yokokura, R. Global 3-group symmetry and ’t Hooft anomalies in axion electrodynamics. J. High Energ. Phys. 2021, 173 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP01(2021)173
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP01(2021)173