Some Global Aspects of Gauge Anomalies of Semisimple Gauge Groups and Fermion Generations in GUT and Superstring Theories

It is pointed out that there are infinite classes of cases based on gauge groups of the form SU(p)xSU(q)xU(1) in which gauge anomalies cancel non-trivially for small sets of fermion multiplets that include symmetric tensor representations. These cancellations are non-trivial in the sense that no group-theoretic explanation in terms of embedding in a larger simple group is apparent. The cases presented here could be useful for model building and lead to models with extra lepto...

We examine six-dimensional quantum field theories through the lens of higher-form global symmetries. Every Yang-Mills gauge theory in six dimensions, with field strength $f^{(2)}$, naturally gives rise to a continuous 1-form global symmetry associated with the 2-form instanton current $J^{(2)} \sim * \text{Tr} \left( f^{(2)} \wedge f^{(2)}\right)$. We show that suitable mixed anomalies involving the gauge field $f^{(2)}$ and ordinary 0-form global symmetries, such as flavor o...

We discuss new-type grand unified theories based on grand unified groups broken to their special subgroups as well as their regular subgroups. In the framework, when we construct four-dimensional (4D) chiral gauge theories, i.e., the Standard Model (SM), 4D gauge anomaly cancellation restricts the minimal number of generations of the 4D SM Weyl fermions. We show that in a six-dimensional (6D) $SU(16)$ gauge theory on $M^4\times T^2/\mathbb{Z}_2$ one generation of the SM fermi...

We classify and characterize all invertible anomalies and all allowed topological terms related to various Standard Models (SM), Grand Unified Theories (GUT), and Beyond Standard Model (BSM) physics. By all anomalies, we mean the inclusion of (1) perturbative/local anomalies captured by perturbative Feynman diagram loop calculations, classified by $\mathbb{Z}$ free classes, and (2) non-perturbative/global anomalies, classified by finite group $\mathbb{Z}_N$ torsion classes. O...

Consequences of gauging exact $Z_k^C$ 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 $N_f$ 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 i...

This ia a review/research paper on anomalies applied to a bottom-up approach to standard model and gravity. It is divided in two parts. The first consists in a review proper of anomalies in quantum field theories. Anomalies are analyzed according to three different methods: a perturbative one based on Feynman diagram, a non-perturbative one relying on the Schwinger-DeWitt approach and, third, the one hinging on the Atiyah-Singer family's index theorem. The three methods are a...

We look for minimal chiral sets of fermions beyond the standard model that are anomaly free and, simultaneously, vectorlike particles with respect to colour SU(3) and electromagnetic U(1). We then study whether the addition of such particles to the standard model particle content allows for the unification of gauge couplings at a high energy scale, above $5.0 \times 10^{15}$ GeV so as to be safely consistent with proton decay bounds. The possibility to have unification at the...

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 with integer spin. Such a theory, formulated in a way that ...

This is the introduction to the collection of review articles "Exact results on N=2 supersymmetric gauge theories". The first three sections are intended to give a general overview over the physical motivations behind this direction of research, and some of the developments that initiated this project. These sections are written for a broad audience of readers with interest in quantum field theory, assuming only very basic knowledge of supersymmetric gauge theories and string...

We study gauge and gravitational anomalies of fermions and 2-form fields on eight-dimensional spin manifolds. Possible global gauge anomalies are classified by spin bordism groups $\Omega^{\text{spin}}_9(BG)$ which we determine by spectral sequence techniques, and we also identify their explicit generator manifolds. It turns out that a fermion in the adjoint representation of any simple Lie group, and a gravitino in $8d$ $\mathcal{N}=1$ supergravity theory, have anomalies. We...