Physics and Mathematics of Generalized Symmetry in QFT

Overview

Generalized symmetries extend ordinary global symmetries by encoding symmetry operations as topological operators, including higher-form and non-invertible examples naturally organized by higher fusion categories. They have reshaped questions in QFT and related areas, from anomalies, gauging, symmetry breaking, and RG flows to string compactifications, CFTs, lattice systems, and topological phases.

The subject also has a rich mathematical side, connected to higher categories, fusion and braided tensor categories, topology, homotopy theory, and higher algebra. This conference brings physicists and mathematicians together to clarify the dictionary between these languages and discuss recent progress at the interface of generalized symmetry, quantum field theory, and mathematics.

Invited Speakers: 

• Yichul Choi (IAS Princeton)

• Mirjam Cvetič (University of Pennsylvania)

• Arun Debray (University of Kentucky) tbc.

• Markus Dierigl (CERN)

• Iñaki García-Etxebarria (Durham University)

• Diego García-Sepúlveda (Harvard University)

• Justin Kaidi (Kyushu University)

• Sungjay Lee (KIAS)

• Ruben Minasian (IPhT Saclay)

• Kantaro Ohmori (RIKEN)

• Du Pei (University of Southern Denmark)

• Pavel Putrov (ICTP, Trieste)

• Rajath Radhakrishnan (University of Oxford)

• Sakura Schäfer-Nameki (University of Oxford) tbc.

• Kazuya Yonekura (Tohoku University)

• Mayuko Yamashita (Perimeter Institute)

Organizers:

• Saghar S. Hosseini (Kavli IPMU)

• Yuji Tachikawa (Kavli IPMU)

• Masahito Yamazaki (Kavli IPMU & School of Science, University of Tokyo)

• Hao Y. Zhang (Kavli IPMU)

• Yi Zhang (Kavli IPMU)