
arXiv: 1810.00844
handle: 1721.1/132545.2 , 1721.1/132545
A familiar anomaly affects SU(2) gauge theory in four dimensions: a theory with an odd number of fermion multiplets in the spin 1/2 representation of the gauge group, and more generally in representations of spin 2r + 1/2, is inconsistent. We describe here a more subtle anomaly that can affect SU(2) gauge theory in four dimensions under the condition that fermions transform with half-integer spin under SU(2) and bosons transform with integer spin. Such a theory, formulated in a way that requires no choice of spin structure, and with an odd number of fermion multiplets in representations of spin 4r + 3/2, is inconsistent. The theory is consistent if one picks a spin or spinc structure. Under Higgsing to U(1), the new SU(2) anomaly reduces to a known anomaly of “all-fermion electrodynamics.” Like that theory, an SU(2) theory with an odd number of fermion multiplets in representations of spin 4r + 3/2 can provide a boundary state for a five-dimensional gapped theory whose partition function on a closed five-manifold Y is (−1)∫Yw2w3. All statements have analogs with SU(2) replaced by Sp(2N). There is also an analog in five dimensions.
High Energy Physics - Theory, Condensed Matter - Strongly Correlated Electrons, High Energy Physics - Theory (hep-th), Strongly Correlated Electrons (cond-mat.str-el), FOS: Physical sciences, Mathematical Physics (math-ph), Mathematical Physics
High Energy Physics - Theory, Condensed Matter - Strongly Correlated Electrons, High Energy Physics - Theory (hep-th), Strongly Correlated Electrons (cond-mat.str-el), FOS: Physical sciences, Mathematical Physics (math-ph), Mathematical Physics
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