CMSA Quantum Matter/String Seminar: F-theory, Part II: Global Structures from Arithmetics

CMSA EVENTS

Speaker:

Ling Lin - CERN

Many salient features of elliptic fibrations leave intriguing imprints on the physics of F-theory compactifications. In this talk, we will focus on the Mordell—Weil group of sections. Beyond the well-known relationship to abelian gauge symmetries, we will discuss how the global structure of the gauge group, e.g., the Standard Model [SU(3) x SU(2) x U(1)]/Z6, is encoded in the geometry. By re-interpreting a non-trivial global structure as having gauged 1-form center symmetries, we will further explain how geometric restrictions of having Mordell—Weil torsion can be understood field theoretically asanomalies of 1-form symmetries. A comparison between these anomalies and elliptic K3 surfaces points towards String Universality for 1-form center symmetries in 8d.

Zoom: https://harvard.zoom.us/j/977347126