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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Chen, Shi, Cherman, Aleksey, Neuzil, Maria
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.00220
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author Chen, Shi
Cherman, Aleksey
Neuzil, Maria
author_facet Chen, Shi
Cherman, Aleksey
Neuzil, Maria
contents We introduce a large class of $θ$ angles in quantum field theory that we call symmetry $θ$ angles. Unlike conventional $θ$ angles whose definition depends on a choice of a path integral, symmetry $θ$ angles are intrinsic parameters of a quantum field theory that depend only on its symmetries. A frequent consequence of symmetry $θ$ angles is a phenomenon we call the topological Witten effect, which is a generalization of the standard Witten effect. Topological Witten effects modify which charged operators are attached to topological operators as a function of $θ$. Physically, topological Witten effects induce generalized Aharonov-Bohm effects. We show that these new $θ$ angles and Witten effects can appear in many familiar field theories.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2507_00220
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Symmetry theta angles and topological Witten effects
Chen, Shi
Cherman, Aleksey
Neuzil, Maria
High Energy Physics - Theory
High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
We introduce a large class of $θ$ angles in quantum field theory that we call symmetry $θ$ angles. Unlike conventional $θ$ angles whose definition depends on a choice of a path integral, symmetry $θ$ angles are intrinsic parameters of a quantum field theory that depend only on its symmetries. A frequent consequence of symmetry $θ$ angles is a phenomenon we call the topological Witten effect, which is a generalization of the standard Witten effect. Topological Witten effects modify which charged operators are attached to topological operators as a function of $θ$. Physically, topological Witten effects induce generalized Aharonov-Bohm effects. We show that these new $θ$ angles and Witten effects can appear in many familiar field theories.
title Symmetry theta angles and topological Witten effects
topic High Energy Physics - Theory
High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.00220