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High Energy Physics Seminar

Monday, April 10, 2023
4:00pm to 5:00pm
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Online and In-Person Event
Putting Generalized Symmetries to Work for Particle Physics
Seth Koren, University of Chicago,

Over the past decade, field theorists have developed a novel framework for thinking about global symmetries which has enormously generalized our understanding thereof. Quite recently, my collaborators and I have established positively that past being a useful formal tool, such generalized symmetries are indeed present in models that we care about as particle physicists---and furthermore understanding them can lead to new insights into these models. As a first example, the Standard Model itself has a 'higher-group' symmetry intertwining flavor and hypercharge, and I will discuss how this symmetry controls the structure of unification. Going Beyond, I will show that the identification of a 'non-invertible' symmetry of Z' models of L_µ - L_τ reveals the existence of simple UV completions thereof where the scale of neutrino masses is exponentially suppressed from that of charged leptons.The talk is in 469 Lauritsen.

Contact theoryinfo@caltech.edu for Zoom link