Symmetries and Strings in Field Theory and Gravity

Understand

We discuss aspects of global and gauged symmetries in quantum field theory and quantum gravity, focusing on discrete gauge symmetries.

• An effective Lagrangian description of $\Z_p$ gauge theories shows that they are associated with an emergent $\Z_p$ one-form (Kalb-Ramond) gauge symmetry.
• This understanding leads us to uncover new observables and new phenomena in nonlinear $\sigma$-models.
• It also allows us to expand on Polchinski's classification of cosmic strings.