Abstract
We discuss the emergence of a new symmetry generator in a Hamiltonian realisation of four-dimensional gauge theories in the flat space foliated by retarded (advanced) time. It generates an asymptotic symmetry that acts on the asymptotic fields in a way different from the usual large gauge transformations. The improved canonical generators, corresponding to gauge and asymptotic symmetries, form a classical Kac-Moody charge algebra with a non-trivial central extension. In particular, we describe the case of electromagnetism, where the charge algebra is the U(1) current algebra with a level proportional to the coupling constant of the theory, κ = 4π 2/e 2. We construct bilinear generators yielding Virasoro algebras on the null boundary. We also provide a non-Abelian generalization of the previous symmetries by analysing the evolution of Yang-Mills theory in Bondi coordinates.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 165 |
Journal | Journal of High Energy Physics |
Volume | 2023 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2023 |
Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2023, The Author(s).
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Nuclear and High Energy Physics