Following a novel approach, all known basic mass generation mechanisms consistent with an exact Abelian U(1) gauge symmetry are shown to be related through an intricate network of dualities whatever the spacetime dimension. This equivalence, which applies in the absence of any supersymmetry, is however restricted by the presence of topological terms generating possible topological effects. In particular, in 3 + 1 dimensions, the duality relations between the Maxwell-Higgs model, the Stueckelberg, and the topological mass generation mechanisms are then established following a careful treatment of the gauge symmetry content. This result offers a new framework for an effective description of superconductivity or topological defects built from fields beyond the Standard Model.
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October 2019
Research Article|
October 24 2019
Mass generation in Abelian U(1) gauge theories: A rich network of dualities
Bruno Bertrand
;
Bruno Bertrand
a)
1
Royal Observatory of Belgium (ROB)
, Avenue Circulaire 3, 1180 Brussels, Belgium
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Jan Govaerts
Jan Govaerts
b)
2
Centre for Cosmology, Particle Physics and Phenomenology (CP3), Institut de Recherche en Mathématique et Physique (IRMP), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL)
, Chemin du Cyclotron 2, bte L7.01.01, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
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a)
Electronic mail: bruno.bertrand@oma.be
b)
Electronic mail: jan.govaerts@uclouvain.be. Fellow of the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS), Stellenbosh, Republic of South Africa. Also at: International Chair in Mathematical Physics and Applications (ICMPA–UNESCO Chair), University of Abomey–Calavi, 072 B.P. 50 Cotonou, Republic of Benin.
J. Math. Phys. 60, 102904 (2019)
Article history
Received:
May 10 2019
Accepted:
September 30 2019
Citation
Bruno Bertrand, Jan Govaerts; Mass generation in Abelian U(1) gauge theories: A rich network of dualities. J. Math. Phys. 1 October 2019; 60 (10): 102904. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5109628
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