Gauging 1-form center symmetries in simple SU(N) gauge theories

Abstract

Consequences of gauging exact ℤkC center symmetries in several simple SU(N) gauge theories, where k is a divisor of N, are investigated. Models discussed include: the SU(N) gauge theory with Nf copies of Weyl fermions in self-adjoint single-column antisymmetric representation, the well-discussed adjoint QCD, QCD-like theories in which the quarks are in a two-index representation of SU(N), and a chiral SU(N) theory with fermions in the symmetric as well as in anti-antisymmetric representations but without fundamentals. Mixed 't Hooft anomalies between the 1-form ℤkC symmetry and some 0- form (standard) discrete symmetry provide us with useful information about the infrared dynamics of the system. In some cases they give decisive indication to select only few possiblities for the infrared phase of the theory.