Preserving gauge invariance in neural networks

In these proceedings we present lattice gauge equivariant convolutional neural networks (L-CNNs) which are able to process data from lattice gauge theory simulations while exactly preserving gauge symmetry. We review aspects of the architecture and show how L-CNNs can represent a large class of gauge invariant and equivariant functions on the lattice. We compare the performance of L-CNNs and non-equivariant networks using a non-linear regression problem and demonstrate how gauge invariance is broken for non-equivariant models.

A new and gauge-invariant littlest Higgs model with T-parity

We inspect the Littlest Higgs model with T-parity, based on a global symmetry SU(5) spontaneously broken to SO(5), in order to elucidate the pathologies it presents due to the non-trivial interplay between the gauge invariance associated to the heavy modes and the discrete T-parity symmetry. In particular, the usual Yukawa Lagrangian responsible for providing masses to the heavy ‘mirror’ fermions is not gauge invariant. This is because it contains an SO(5) quintuplet of right-handed fermions that transforms nonlinearly under SU(5), hence involving in general all SO(5) generators when a gauge transformation is performed and not only those associated to its gauge subgroup. Part of the solution to this problem consists of completing the right-handed fermion quintuplet with T-odd ‘mirror partners’ and a gauge singlet, what has been previously suggested for other purposes. Furthermore, we find that the singlet must be T-even, the global symmetry group must be enlarged, an additional nonlinear sigma field should be introduced to parametrize the spontaneous symmetry breaking and new extra fermionic degrees of freedom are required to give a mass to all fermions in an economic way while preserving gauge invariance. Finally, we derive the Coleman–Weinberg potential for the Goldstone fields using the background field method.

Gauge-invariant formulation of axion-electrodynamics

In this paper, we propose a simple generalization of axion-electrodynamics (AED) for the general case in which Dirac fermion fields and scalar/pseudoscalar axion-like fields are present in the local [Formula: see text]([Formula: see text])[Formula: see text] gauge-invariant Lagrangian of the system. Our primary goal (which is not explored here) is to understand and predict novel phenomena that have no counterpart in standard (pseudoscalar) AED. With this end in view, we discuss on very general grounds, possible processes in which a Dirac field is coupled to axionic fields via the electromagnetic (EM) field.

Hamiltonian analysis and positivity of a newmassive spin-2 model

Recently a new model has been proposed to describe free massive spin-2 particles in D dimensions in terms of a non symmetric rank-2 tensor eµν and a mixed symmetry tensor Bµ[αβ]. The model is invariant under linearized diffeomorphisms without Stueckelberg fields. It resembles a spin-2 version of the topologically massive spin-1 BF model (Cremmer-Scherk model). Here we apply the Dirac-Bergmann procedure in order to identify all Hamiltonian constraints and perform a complete counting of degrees of freedom. In D = 3 + 1 we find 5 degrees of freedom corresponding to helicities ±2, ±1, 0 as expected. The positivity of the reduced Hamiltonian is proved by using spin projection operators. We have also proposed a parent action that establishes the duality between the Fierz-Pauli and the new model. The equivalence between gauge invariant correlation functions of both theories is demonstrated.

The Role of Longitudinal Polarizations in Horndeski and Macroscopic Gravity: Introducing Gravitational Plasmas

We discuss some general and relevant features of longitudinal gravitational modes in Horndeski gravity and their interaction with matter media. Adopting a gauge-invariant formulation, we clarify how massive scalar and vector fields can induce additional transverse and longitudinal excitations, resulting in breathing, vector, and longitudinal polarizations. We review, then, the interaction of standard gravitational waves with a molecular medium, outlining the emergence of effective massive gravitons, induced by the net quadrupole moment due to molecule deformation. Finally, we investigate the interaction of the massive mode in Horndeski gravity with a noncollisional medium, showing that Landau damping phenomenon can occur in the gravitational sector as well. That allows us to introduce the concept of “gravitational plasma”, where inertial forces associated with the background field play the role of cold ions in electromagnetic plasma.

QCD Effective Locality: A Theoretical and Phenomenological Review

About ten years ago, the use of standard functional manipulations was demonstrated to imply an unexpected property satisfied by the fermionic Green’s functions of QCD and dubbed Effective Locality. This feature of QCD is non-perturbative, as it results from a full gauge invariant integration of the gluonic degrees of freedom. In this review article, a few salient theoretical aspects and phenomenological applications of this property are summarized.

Extended superconformal higher-spin gauge theories in four dimensions

Using the off-shell formulation for $$ \mathcal{N} $$ N = 2 conformal supergravity in four dimensions, we describe superconformal higher-spin multiplets of conserved currents in a curved background and present their associated unconstrained gauge prepotentials. The latter are used to construct locally superconformal chiral actions, which are demonstrated to be gauge invariant in arbitrary conformally flat backgrounds. The main $$ \mathcal{N} $$ N = 2 results are then generalised to the $$ \mathcal{N} $$ N -extended case. We also present the gauge-invariant field strengths for on-shell massless higher-spin $$ \mathcal{N} $$ N = 2 supermultiplets in anti-de Sitter space. These field strengths prove to furnish representations of the $$ \mathcal{N} $$ N = 2 superconformal group.

Higher spin glueballs from functional methods

We calculate the glueball spectrum for spin up to $$J=$$ J = 4 and positive charge parity in pure Yang–Mills theory. We construct the full bases for $$J=$$ J = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and discuss the relation to gauge invariant operators. Using a fully self-contained truncation of Dyson–Schwinger equations as input, we obtain ground states and first and second excited states from extrapolations of the eigenvalue curves. Where available, we find good quantitative agreement with lattice results

Covariant decomposition of the non-linear galaxy number counts and their monopole

We present a fully non-linear and relativistically covariant expression for the observed galaxy density contrast. Building on a null tetrad tailored to the cosmological observer's past light cone, we find a decomposition of the non-linear galaxy over-density into manifestly gauge-invariant quantities, each of which has a clear physical interpretation as a cosmological observable. This ensures that the monopole of the galaxy over-density field (the mean galaxy density as a function of observed redshift) is properly accounted for. We anticipate that this decomposition will be useful for future work on non-linearities in galaxy number counts, for example, deriving the relativistic expression for the galaxy bispectrum. We then specialise our results to conformal Newtonian gauge, with a Hubble parameter either defined globally or measured locally, illustrating the significance of the different contributions to the observed monopole of the galaxy density.