Physics

Instanton

Spontaneous symmetry breaking

Anomaly (physics)

Abelian group

Gauge symmetry

Gauge theory

Global symmetry

Gauge anomaly

Pure mathematics

Symmetry breaking

Geometry

Symmetry (geometry)

Theoretical physics

Mathematics

Mathematical physics

Quantum mechanics

Supersymmetric gauge theory

Seiberg duality

Homogeneous space

Journal of High Energy Physics

A bstract All five-dimensional non-abelian gauge theories have a U(1) I global symmetry associated with instantonic particles. We describe an obstruction to coupling U(1) I to a classical background gauge field that occurs whenever the theory has a one-form center symmetry. This is a finite-order mixed ’t Hooft anomaly between the two symmetries. We also show that a similar obstruction takes place in gauge theories with fundamental matter by studying twisted bundles for the ordinary flavor symmetry. We explore some general dynamical properties of the candidate phases implied by the anomaly. Finally, we apply our results to supersymmetric gauge theories in five dimensions and analyze the symmetry enhancement patterns occurring at their conjectured RG fixed points.

Instantons, symmetries and anomalies in five dimensions