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Non-invertible symmetries of quantum field theories and many-body systems generalize the concept of symmetries by allowing non-invertible operations in addition to more ordinary invertible ones described by groups. The aim of this paper is to point out that these non-invertible symmetries act on local operators by quantum operations, i.e. completely positive maps between density matrices, which form a natural class of operations containing both unitary evolutions and measurements and play an important role in quantum information theory. This observation will be illustrated by the Kramers--Wannier duality of the one-dimensional quantum Ising chain, which is a prototypical example of non-invertible symmetry operations., Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures

We show that the low-energy effective actions of two ten-dimensional supersymmetric heterotic strings are different by a $\mathbb{Z}_3$-valued discrete topological term even after we turn off the $E_8\times E_8$ and $Spin(32)/\mathbb{Z}_2$ gauge fields. This will be demonstrated by considering the inflow of normal bundle anomaly to the respective NS5-branes from the bulk. We also find that the $Spin(16)\times Spin(16)$ non-tachyonic non-supersymmetric heterotic string has the same non-zero $\mathbb{Z}_3$-valued discrete topological term. We will also explain the relation of our findings to the theory of topological modular forms. The paper is written as a string theory paper, except for an appendix translating the content in mathematical terms. We will explain there that our finding identifies a representative of the $\mathbb{Z}/3$-torsion element of $\pi_{-32}\mathrm{TMF}$ as a particular self-dual vertex operator superalgebra of $c=16$ and how we utilize string duality to arrive at this statement., Comment: 20 pages + an appendix, 2 figures; v2: notations changed and references added

We discuss a class of selection rules which i) do not come from group actions on fields, ii) are exact at tree level in perturbation theory, iii) are increasingly violated as the loop order is raised, and iv) eventually reduce to selection rules associated with an ordinary group symmetry. We start from basic field-theoretical examples in which fields are labeled by conjugacy classes rather than representations of a group, and discuss generalizations using fusion algebras or hypergroups. We also discuss how such selection rules arise naturally in string theory, such as for non-Abelian orbifolds or other cases with non-invertible worldsheet symmetries., Comment: 22 pages + three appendices

We construct a morphism of spectra from $\mathrm{KO}((q))/\mathrm{TMF}$ to $\Sigma^{-20}I_{\mathbb{Z}} \mathrm{TMF}$, which we show to be an equivalence and to implement the Anderson self-duality of $\mathrm{TMF}$. This morphism is then used to define another morphism from $\mathrm{TMF}$ to $\Sigma^{-20}I_{\mathbb{Z}}(\mathrm{MSpin}/\mathrm{MString})$, which induces a differential geometric pairing and captures not only the invariant of Bunke and Naumann but also a finer invariant which detects subtle Anderson dual pairs of elements of $\pi_\bullet\mathrm{TMF}$. Our analysis leads to conjectures concerning certain self-dual vertex operator superalgebras and some specific torsion classes in $\pi_\bullet\mathrm{TMF}$. This paper is written as an article in mathematics, but much of the discussions in it was originally motivated by a study in heterotic string theory. As such, we have a separate appendix for physicists, in which the contents of the paper are summarized and translated into a language more amenable to them. In physics terms, our result allows us to compute the discrete part of the Green-Schwarz coupling of the $B$-field in a couple of subtle hitherto-unexplored cases., Comment: 93 pages; v2: major revision. one Appendix was kindly provided by Sanath Devalapurkar

The common statement that any consistent quantum gravity theory contains dynamical objects with all possible charges suggests that there are still a number of hitherto-unidentified branes in string theory. Here we give the exact worldsheet description of near-horizon limits of non-supersymmetric $p$-branes in ten-dimensional $\mathrm{Spin}(32)/\mathbb{Z}_2$ or $(E_8 \times E_8) \rtimes \mathbb{Z}_2$ heterotic superstring theories for $p=7,6,4,0$., Comment: 5 pages

We classify two-dimensional purely chiral conformal field theories which are defined on two-dimensional surfaces equipped with spin structure and have central charge less than or equal to 16, and discuss their duality webs. This result can be used to confirm that the list of non-supersymmetric ten-dimensional heterotic string theories found in the late 1980s is complete and does not miss any exotic example., Comment: 29+13 pages; v2: published version, with many improvements in presentation thanks to comments by the referees

For physicists: For supersymmetric quantum mechanics, there are cases when a mod-2 Witten index can be defined, even when a more ordinary $\mathbb{Z}$-valued Witten index vanishes. Similarly, for 2d supersymmetric quantum field theories, there are cases when a mod-2 elliptic genus can be defined, even when a more ordinary elliptic genus vanishes. We study such mod-2 elliptic genera in the context of $\mathcal{N}=(0,1)$ supersymmetry, and show that they are characterized by mod-2 reductions of integral modular forms, under some assumptions. For mathematicians: We study the image of the standard homomorphism $\pi_n \mathrm{TMF}\to \pi_n \mathrm{KO}((q))\simeq \mathbb{Z}/2((q))$ for $n=8k+1$ or $8k+2$, by relating them to the mod-2 reductions of integral modular forms., Comment: 31 pages

We introduce a class of 3d theories consisting of strongly-coupled ${\mathcal N}=4$ systems coupled to ${\mathcal N}=3$ Chern-Simons gauge multiplets, which exhibit ${\mathcal N}=4$ enhancements when a peculiar condition on the Chern-Simons levels is met. An example is the $SU(N)^3$ Chern-Simons theory coupled to the 3d $T_N$ theory, which enhances to ${\mathcal N}=4$ when $1/k_1+1/k_2+1/k_3=0$. We also show that some but not all of these ${\mathcal N}=4$ enhancements can be understood by considering M5-branes on a special class of Seifert manifolds. Our construction provides a large class of ${\mathcal N}=4$ theories which have not been studied previously., Comment: 28 pages + appendices. v2: An argument is provided showing that the condition for enhanced supersymmetry can be met for graph manifolds with generic holonomy

It is known that the asymptotic density of states of a 2d CFT in an irreducible representation $\rho$ of a finite symmetry group $G$ is proportional to $(\dim\rho)^2$. We show how this statement can be generalized when the symmetry can be non-invertible and is described by a fusion category $\mathcal{C}$. Along the way, we explain what plays the role of a representation of a group in the case of a fusion category symmetry; the answer to this question is already available in the broader mathematical physics literature but not yet widely known in hep-th. This understanding immediately implies a selection rule on the correlation functions, and also allows us to derive the asymptotic density., Comment: 42 pages; v2: minor revision; v3: published version

We argue that having an odd number of Majorana fermion zero modes on a dynamical point-like soliton signifies an inconsistency in a theory with 3+1 and higher dimensions. We check this statement in a couple of examples in field theory and in string/M theory., Comment: Added crucial references

We point out that some questions in quantum field theory are undecidable in a precise mathematical sense. More concretely, it will be demonstrated that there is no algorithm answering whether a given 2d supersymmetric Lagrangian theory breaks supersymmetry or not. It will also be shown that there is a specific 2d supersymmetric Lagrangian theory which breaks supersymmetry if and only if the standard Zermelo-Fraenkel set theory with the axiom of choice is consistent, which can never be proved or disproved as the consequence of G\"odel's second incompleteness theorem. The article includes a brief and informal introduction to the phenomenon of undecidability and its previous appearances in theoretical physics., Comment: A 15-minute video presentation of the content is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H548i3dnsWE . v2: 16 pages, with some additions following referees' suggestions; the version to be published

We numerically study an anyon chain based on the Haagerup fusion category, and find evidence that it leads in the long-distance limit to a conformal field theory whose central charge is $\sim 2$. Fusion categories generalize the concept of finite group symmetries to non-invertible symmetry operations, and the Haagerup fusion category is the simplest one which comes neither from finite groups nor affine Lie algebras. As such, ours is the first example of conformal field theories which have truly exotic generalized symmetries., Comment: 4+1 pages, 7 figures; the authors are ordered alphabetically

We reformulate the question of the absence of global anomalies of heterotic string theory mathematically in terms of a certain natural transformation $\mathrm{TMF}^\bullet\to (I_{\mathbb{Z}}\Omega^\text{string})^{\bullet-20}$, from topological modular forms to the Anderson dual of string bordism groups, using the Segal-Stolz-Teichner conjecture. We will show that this natural transformation vanishes, implying that heterotic global anomalies are always absent. The fact that $\mathrm{TMF}^{21}(\mathrm{pt})=0$ plays an important role in the process. Along the way, we also discuss how the twists of $\mathrm{TMF}$ can be described under the Segal-Stolz-Teichner conjecture, by using the result of Freed and Hopkins concerning anomalies of quantum field theories. The paper contains separate introductions for mathematicians and for string theorists, in the hope of making the content more accessible to a larger audience. The sections are also demarcated cleanly into mathematically rigorous parts and those which are not., Comment: 36 pages; v2: incorporates many suggestions by a helpful anonymous referee

We study higher symmetries and anomalies of 4d $\mathfrak{so}(2n_c)$ gauge theory with $2n_f$ flavors. We find that they depend on the parity of $n_c$ and $n_f$, the global form of the gauge group, and the discrete theta angle. The contribution from the fermions plays a central role in our analysis. Furthermore, our conclusion applies to $\mathcal{N}=1$ supersymmetric cases as well, and we see that higher symmetries and anomalies match across the Intriligator-Seiberg duality between $\mathfrak{so}(2n_c)\leftrightarrow\mathfrak{so}(2n_f-2n_c+4)$., Comment: 18 pages + appendices; v2: minor changes

In the last few years it was realized that every fermionic theory in 1+1 dimensions is a generalized Jordan-Wigner transform of a bosonic theory with a non-anomalous $\mathbb{Z}_2$ symmetry. In this note we determine how the boundary states are mapped under this correspondence. We also interpret this mapping as the fusion of the original boundary with the fermionization interface., Comment: 39 pages, 3 figures

Global gauge anomalies in $6d$ associated with non-trivial homotopy groups $\pi_6(G)$ for $G=SU(2)$, $SU(3)$, and $G_2$ were computed and utilized in the past. In the modern bordism point of view of anomalies, however, they come from the bordism groups $\Omega^\text{spin}_7(BG)$, which are in fact trivial and therefore preclude their existence. Instead, it was noticed that a proper treatment of the $6d$ Green-Schwarz mechanism reproduces the same anomaly cancellation conditions derived from $\pi_6(G)$. In this paper, we revisit and clarify the relation between these two different approaches., Comment: 35 pages; v2: minor changes and additional references, version to be published

We carry out a systematic study of 4d $\mathcal{N} = 2$ preserving S-folds of F-theory 7-branes and the worldvolume theories on D3-branes probing them. They consist of two infinite series of theories, which we denote following the original papers by $\mathcal{S}^{(r)}_{G,\ell}$ for $\ell = 2,3,4$ and $\mathcal{T}^{(r)}_{G,\ell}$ for $\ell = 2,3,4,5,6$. Their distinction lies in the discrete torsion carried by the S-fold and in the difference in the asymptotic holonomy of the gauge bundle on the 7-brane. We study various properties of these theories, using diverse field theoretical and string theoretical methods., Comment: 47 pages, 13 figures and 6 tables, references added and minor changes

We consider an analogue of Witten's $SL(2,\mathbb{Z})$ action on three-dimensional QFTs with $U(1)$ symmetry for $2k$-dimensional QFTs with $\mathbb{Z}_2$ $(k-1)$-form symmetry. We show that the $SL(2,\mathbb{Z})$ action only closes up to a multiplication by an invertible topological phase whose partition function is the Brown-Kervaire invariant of the spacetime manifold. We interpret it as part of the $SL(2,\mathbb{Z})$ anomaly of the bulk $(2k+1)$-dimensional $\mathbb{Z}_2$ gauge theory., Comment: 19 pages

We revisit various topological issues concerning four-dimensional ungauged and gauged Wess-Zumino-Witten (WZW) terms for $SU$ and $SO$ quantum chromodynamics (QCD), from the modern bordism point of view. We explain, for example, why the definition of the $4d$ WZW terms requires the spin structure. We also discuss how the mixed anomaly involving the 1-form symmetry of $SO$ QCD is reproduced in the low-energy sigma model., Comment: 59 pages; v2: minor changes

We derive the general anomaly polynomial for a class of two-dimensional CFTs arising as twisted compactifications of a higher-dimensional theory on compact manifolds $\mathcal{M}_d$, including the contribution of the isometries of $\mathcal{M}_d$. We then use the result to perform a counting of microstates for electrically charged and rotating supersymmetric black strings in AdS$_5\times S^5$ and AdS$_7\times S^4$ with horizon topology BTZ$ \ltimes S^2$ and BTZ$ \ltimes S^2 \times \Sigma_\mathfrak{g}$, respectively, where $\Sigma_\mathfrak{g}$ is a Riemann surface. We explicitly construct the latter class of solutions by uplifting a class of four-dimensional rotating black holes. We provide a microscopic explanation of the entropy of such black holes by using a charged version of the Cardy formula., Comment: 42 pages, 1 figure; v2: crucial references added; v3: typos corrected

We develop a general operator algebraic method which focuses on projective representations of symmetry group for proving Lieb-Schultz-Mattis type theorems, i.e., no-go theorems that rule out the existence of a unique gapped ground state (or, more generally, a pure split state), for quantum spin chains with on-site symmetry. We first prove a theorem for translation invariant spin chains that unifies and extends two theorems proved by two of the authors in [OT1]. We then prove a Lieb-Schultz-Mattis type theorem for spin chains that are invariant under the reflection about the origin and not necessarily translation invariant., Comment: 22 pages; v2: typos corrected and references added; the reference [OT1] in the abstract refers to arXiv:1808.08740

We revisit the N=6 superconformal Chern-Simons-matter theories and their supergravity duals in the context of generalized symmetries. This allows us to finally clarify how the $SU(N)\times SU(N)$ and $(SU(N)\times SU(N))/\mathbb{Z}_N$ theories, as well as other quotient theories that have recently been discussed, fit into the holographic framework. It also resolves a long standing puzzle regarding the di-baryon operator in the $U(N)\times U(N)$ theory., Comment: 27 pages

Chiral and non-chiral $p$-form gauge fields have gravitational anomalies and anomalies of Green-Schwarz type. This means that they are most naturally realized as the boundary modes of bulk topological phases in one higher dimensions. We give a systematic description of the total bulk-boundary system which is analogous to the realization of a chiral fermion on the boundary of a massive fermion. The anomaly of the boundary theory is given by the partition function of the bulk theory, which we explicitly compute in terms of the Atiyah-Patodi-Singer $\eta$-invariant. We use our formalism to determine the $\mathrm{SL}(2,{\mathbb Z})$ anomaly of the 4d Maxwell theory. We also apply it to study the worldvolume theories of a single D-brane and an M5-brane in the presence of orientifolds, orbifolds, and S-folds in string, M, and F theories. In an appendix we also describe a simple class of non-unitary invertible topological theories whose partition function is not a bordism invariant, illustrating the necessity of the unitarity condition in the cobordism classification of the invertible phases., Comment: 127 pages. v2: minor addition

We show that there is a fermionic minimal model, i.e. a 1+1d conformal field theory which contains operators of half-integral spins in its spectrum, for each $c=1-6/m(m+1)$, $m\ge 3$. This generalizes the Majorana fermion for $c=1/2$, $m=3$ and the smallest $\mathcal{N}{=}1$ supersymmetric minimal model for $c=7/10$, $m=4$. We provide explicit Hamiltonians on Majorana chains realizing these fermionic minimal models., Comment: 5+4 pages, 1 figure, 2 tables; v2: explicit form of the interacting Majorana chain realizing the $m=5$ fermionic minimal model added, some discussions added, references added, published version up to formatting

It is well-known that the value of the Frobenius-Schur indicator $|G|^{-1} \sum_{g\in G} \chi(g^2)=\pm1$ of a real irreducible representation of a finite group $G$ determines which of the two types of real representations it belongs to, i.e. whether it is strictly real or quaternionic. We study the extension to the case when a homomorphism $\varphi:G\to \mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z}$ gives the group algebra $\mathbb{C}[G]$ the structure of a superalgebra. Namely, we construct of a super version of the Frobenius-Schur indicator whose value for a real irreducible super representation is an eighth root of unity, distinguishing which of the eight types of irreducible real super representations described in [Wall1964] it belongs to. We also discuss its significance in the context of two-dimensional finite-group gauge theories on pin$^-$ surfaces., Comment: 11 pages; v2: additional references

We point out that different choices of Gliozzi-Scherk-Olive (GSO) projections in superstring theory can be conveniently understood by the inclusion of fermionic invertible phases, or equivalently topological superconductors, on the worldsheet. This allows us to find that the unoriented Type $\rm 0$ string theory with $\Omega^2=(-1)^{\sf f}$ admits different GSO projections parameterized by $n$ mod 8, depending on the number of Kitaev chains on the worldsheet. The presence of $n$ boundary Majorana fermions then leads to the classification of D-branes by $KO^n(X)\oplus KO^{-n}(X)$ in these theories, which we also confirm by the study of the D-brane boundary states. Finally, we show that there is no essentially new GSO projection for the Type $\rm I$ worldsheet theory by studying the relevant bordism group, which classifies corresponding invertible phases. This paper provides the details for the results announced in the letter \cite{Kaidi:2019pzj}., Comment: 75 pages, 5 figures, v2: new appendix by additional author, published version

We point out that the choice of phases in GSO projections can be accounted for by a choice of fermionic SPT phases on the worldsheet of the string. This point of view not only easily explains why there are essentially two type II theories, but also predicts that there are unoriented type 0 theories labeled by n mod 8, and that there is an essentially unique choice of the type I worldsheet theory. We also discuss the relationship between this point of view and the K-theoretic classification of D-branes., Comment: 5 pages

We point out that the moduli spaces of all known 3d $\mathcal{N}=$ 8 and $\mathcal{N}=$ 6 SCFTs, after suitable gaugings of finite symmetry groups, have the form $\mathbb{C}^{4r}/\Gamma$ where $\Gamma$ is a real or complex reflection group depending on whether the theory is $\mathcal{N}=$ 8 or $\mathcal{N}=$ 6, respectively. Real reflection groups are either dihedral groups, Weyl groups, or two sporadic cases $H_{3,4}$. Since the BLG theories and the maximally supersymmetric Yang-Mills theories correspond to dihedral and Weyl groups, it is strongly suggested that there are two yet-to-be-discovered 3d $\mathcal{N}=$ 8 theories for $H_{3,4}$. We also show that all known $\mathcal{N}=$ 6 theories correspond to complex reflection groups collectively known as $G(k,x,N)$. Along the way, we demonstrate that two ABJM theories $(SU(N)_k\times SU(N)_{-k})/\mathbb{Z}_N$ and $(U(N)_k\times U(N)_{-k})/\mathbb{Z}_k$ are actually equivalent., Comment: 37 pages

We consider the ($3{+}1$)-dimensional Maxwell theory in the situation where going around nontrivial paths in the spacetime involves the action of the duality transformation exchanging the electric field and the magnetic field, as well as its $\mathrm{SL}(2,\mathbb{Z})$ generalizations. We find that the anomaly of this system in a particular formulation is 56 times that of a Weyl fermion. This result is derived in two independent ways: one is by using the bulk symmetry protected topological phase in $4{+}1$ dimensions characterizing the anomaly, and the other is by considering the properties of a ($5{+}1$)-dimensional superconformal field theory known as the E-string theory. This anomaly of the Maxwell theory plays an important role in the consistency of string theory., Comment: 5+1 pages, 1 figure, 1 table; v2: references added, further discussion on "the transition from the self-dual tensor to 28 fermions in $5{+}1$ dimensions" added, published version up to formatting

We discuss a strategy to construct gapped boundaries for a large class of symmetry-protected topological phases (SPT phases) beyond group cohomology. This is done by a generalization of the symmetry extension method previously used for cohomological SPT phases. We find that this method allows us to construct gapped boundaries for time-reversal-invariant bosonic SPT phases and for fermionic Gu-Wen SPT phases for arbitrary finite internal symmetry groups., Comment: 22 pages, 4 figures

We introduce autoboot, a Mathematica program which automatically generates mixed-correlator bootstrap equations of an arbitrary number of scalar external operators, given the global symmetry group and the representations of the operators. The output is a Python program which uses Ohtsuki's cboot which in turn uses Simmons-Duffin's sdpb. In an appendix we also discuss a simple technique to significantly reduce the time to run sdpb, which we call hot-starting., Comment: 27 pages, 2 figures; v2: minor typos in the sample codes fixed; v3: additional references and minor changes; The code is available at https://github.com/selpoG/autoboot/

This lecture series consists of mostly independent three parts: Part 1: a tour of basic 4d N=1 supersymmetric dynamics, covering the pure super Yang-Mills, the Seiberg duality for classical groups, the supersymmetric index on S^3, and the a-maximization. Part 2: a brief look at 2d N=(2,2) and N=(0,2) dynamics, covering the Landau-Ginzburg and Calabi-Yau models, the elliptic genera on T^2, and the triality of Gadde-Gukov-Putrov. Appendix: a review of basic properties of supersymmetries in various dimensions. Part of the content is based on an unpublished collaboration with F. Yagi and another with K. Kikuchi., Comment: Any type of comments will be greatly appreciated. 160 pages. Based on lectures at Tohoku University, Osaka University, Kyoto University and Nagoya University in the last several years; v2: minor typos fixed

We consider compactifications of very Higgsable 6d $N =(1,0)$ SCFTs on $T^2$ with non-trivial Stiefel-Whitney classes (or equivalently 't Hooft magnetic fluxes) introduced for their flavor symmetry groups. These systems can also be studied as twisted $S^1$ compactifications of the corresponding 5d theories. We deduce various properties of the resulting 4d $N=2$ SCFTs by combining these two viewpoints. In particular, we find that all 4d rank-1 $N =2$ SCFTs with a dimension-6 Coulomb branch operator with flavor symmetry $\mathfrak{e}_8$, $\mathfrak{usp}(10)$, $\mathfrak{su}(4) $ and $\mathfrak{su}(3)$ can be uniformly obtained by starting from a single-tensor theory in 6d. We also have a mostly independent appendix where we propose a rule to determine the Coulomb branch dimensions of 4d $N =2$ theories obtained by $T^2$ compactifications of 6d very Higgsable theories with and without Stiefel-Whitney twist., Comment: 70 pages, 12 figures; v2: new short subsections 3.3 and B.3; v3: published version

We study the interpretation of O7+ planes in F-theory, mainly in the context of the six-dimensional models. In particular, we study how to assign gauge algebras and matter content to seven-branes and their intersections, and the implication of anomaly cancellation in our construction, generalizing earlier analyses without any O7+ planes. By including O7+ planes we can realize 6d superconformal field theories hitherto unobtainable in F-theory, such as those with hypermultiplets in the symmetric representation of su. We also examine a couple of compact models. These reproduce some famous perturbative models, and in some cases enhance their gauge symmetries non-perturbatively., Comment: 58 pages; v3: minor changes; journal version

Orientifold $p$-planes with $p\le4$ have fractional D$p$-charges, and therefore appear inconsistent with Dirac quantization with respect to D$(6-p)$-branes. We explain in detail how this issue is resolved by taking into account the anomaly of the worldvolume fermions using the $\eta$ invariants. We also point out relationships to the classification of interacting fermionic symmetry protected topological phases. In an appendix, we point out that the duality group of type IIB string theory is the pin+ version of the double cover of $GL(2,\mathbb{Z})$., Comment: 34 pages, v2: minor improvements, including the clarification that we treat O+ planes in this paper

We perform a study of time reversal symmetry of abelian anyons $\mathcal{A}$ in 2+1 dimensions, in the spin structure independent cases. We will find the importance of the group $\mathcal{C}$ of time-reversal-symmetric anyons modulo anyons composed from an anyon and its time reversal. Possible choices of local Kramers degeneracy are given by quadratic refinements of the braiding phases of $\mathcal{C}$, and the anomaly is then given by the Arf invariant of the chosen quadratic refinement. We also give a concrete study of the cases when $|\mathcal{A}|$ is odd or $\mathcal{A}=(\mathbb{Z}_2)^N$., Comment: 26 pages; v2: references added

We point out that the $\text{USp}$ symmetry associated to a full twisted puncture of a class S theory of type $A_\text{even}$ has the global anomaly associated to $\pi_4(\text{USp})=\mathbb{Z}_2$. We discuss manifestations of this fact in the context of the superconformal field theory $R_{2,2N}$ introduced by Chacaltana, Distler and Trimm. For example, we find that this theory can be thought of as a natural ultraviolet completion of an infrared-free $\text{SO}(2N+1)$ gauge theory with $2N$ flavors, whose $\text{USp}(4N)$ symmetry clearly has the global anomaly., Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures; v2: minor changes

A self-duality group $\cal G$ in quantum field theory can have anomalies. In that case, the space of ordinary coupling constants $\cal M$ can be extended to include the space $\cal F$ of coefficients of counterterms in background fields. The extended space $\cal N$ forms a bundle over $\cal M$ with fiber $\cal F$, and the topology of the bundle is determined by the anomaly. For example, the ${\cal G}=SL(2,\mathbb{Z})$ duality of the 4d Maxwell theory has an anomaly, and the space ${\cal F}=S^1$ for the gravitational theta-angle is nontrivially fibered over ${\cal M}=\mathbb{H}/SL(2,\mathbb{Z})$. We will explain a simple method to determine the anomaly when the 4d theory is obtained by compactifying a 6d theory on a Riemann surface in terms of the anomaly polynomial of the parent 6d theory. Our observations resolve an apparent contradiction associated with the global structure of the Kahler potential on the space of exactly marginal couplings of supersymmetric theories., Comment: 40 pages; v2: minor changes

We study in general spacetime dimension the symmetry of the theory obtained by gauging a non-anomalous finite normal Abelian subgroup $A$ of a $\Gamma$-symmetric theory. Depending on how anomalous $\Gamma$ is, we find that the symmetry of the gauged theory can be i) a direct product of $G=\Gamma/A$ and a higher-form symmetry $\hat A$ with a mixed anomaly, where $\hat A$ is the Pontryagin dual of $A$; ii) an extension of the ordinary symmetry group $G$ by the higher-form symmetry $\hat A$; iii) or even more esoteric types of symmetries which are no longer groups. We also discuss the relations to the effect called the $H^3(G,\hat A)$ symmetry localization obstruction in the condensed-matter theory and to some of the constructions in the works of Kapustin-Thorngren and Wang-Wen-Witten., Comment: 26 pages; v3: numerous minor improvements suggested by an anonymous referee; v2: minor improvement in Sec. 2.6.1

We give a rough description of the 'categories' formed by quantum field theories. A few recent mathematical conjectures derived from quantum field theories, some of which are now proven theorems, will be presented in this language., Comment: 20 pages. submitted to Proceedings of the ICM 2018

We perform conformal perturbation theory by marginal operators to first order. A suitable renormalization method is needed that makes the conformal invariance of the deformed correlation functions manifest. Combining the embedding space formalism with the dimensional regularization, we explicitly check that the deformed and renormalized two and three point functions are conformally invariant., Comment: Section 4 removed owing to an issue pointed out by Slava Rychkov. References added

String theory provides us with 8d supersymmetric gauge theory with gauge algebras $\mathfrak{su}(N)$, $\mathfrak{so}(2N)$, $\mathfrak{sp}(N)$, $\mathfrak{e}_{6}$, $\mathfrak{e}_{7}$ and $\mathfrak{e}_{8}$, but no construction for $\mathfrak{so}(2N{+}1)$, $\mathfrak{f}_4$ and $\mathfrak{g}_2$ is known. In this paper, we show that the theories for $\mathfrak{f}_4$ and $\mathfrak{so}(2N{+}1)$ have a global gauge anomaly associated to $\pi_{d=8}$, while $\mathfrak{g}_2$ does not have it. We argue that the anomaly associated to $\pi_d$ in $d$-dimensional gauge theories cannot be canceled by topological degrees of freedom in general. We also show that the theories for $\mathfrak{sp}(N)$ have a subtler gauge anomaly, which we suggest should be canceled by a topological analogue of the Green-Schwarz mechanism., Comment: 27 pages

The anomaly polynomial of a theory can involve not only curvature two-forms of the flavor symmetry background but also two-forms on the space of coupling constants. As an example, we point out that there is a mixed anomaly between the R-symmetry and the topology of the space of exactly marginal couplings of class S theories. Using supersymmetry, we translate this anomaly to the K\"ahler class of the Zamolodchikov metric. We compare the result against a holographic computation in the large N limit. In an appendix, we explain how to obtain the bosonic components in the supergravity completion of the curvature squared terms using compatibility with the topological twist., Comment: 14 pages. v3: an author added, who pointed out a serious error in v2, resolved it, and even provided a new appendix. The main conclusions are unchanged