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This paper investigates the emergence of global symmetries in quantum gravity through ensemble averages of conformal field theories, utilizing holography and Siegel-Weil formulas as a precision case study. By interpreting T-dualities as "duality origami," the authors connect these mathematical structures to the Swampland program and propose a new conjecture regarding symmetry breaking in mixed states. The work advances theoretical understanding of quantum gravity without offering immediate practical applications for current AI or quantum hardware development.
Emergent Symmetries in Ensemble Averages
arXiv:2609.36542v1 Announce Type: cross Abstract: It is widely believed that there are no exact global symmetries in quantum gravity. We review recent works showing that global symmetries can nevertheless emerge after ensemble averages of theories, as encountered in holography. As a precision case study, we discuss the ensemble average of two-dimensional Narain-type conformal field theories associated with an even quadratic form of general signature, which is computed by the Siegel-Weil formula and interpreted as a sum over geometries in a three-dimensional Abelian Chern-Simons theory. Global symmetries of the bulk anyons can emerge after the average, as T-dualities relating different theories in the ensemble are "folded" into symmetries of a single theory (duality origami). We discuss the relation to the Swampland program, including the emergence of global symmetries at infinite distance. Finally, we recast strong-to-weak spontaneous symmetry breaking (SWSSB) of mixed states as an emergence of symmetries in ensemble averages; in holography, wormholes connecting the two sides of a thermofield-double construction provide its bulk realization. This motivates a new Swampland conjecture.
Abstract:It is widely believed that there are no exact global symmetries in quantum gravity. We review recent works showing that global symmetries can nevertheless emerge after ensemble averages of theories, as encountered in holography. As a precision case study, we discuss the ensemble average of two-dimensional Narain-type conformal field theories associated with an even quadratic form of general signature, which is computed by the Siegel-Weil formula and interpreted as a sum over geometries in a three-dimensional Abelian Chern-Simons theory. Global symmetries of the bulk anyons can emerge after the average, as T-dualities relating different theories in the ensemble are "folded" into symmetries of a single theory (duality origami). We discuss the relation to the Swampland program, including the emergence of global symmetries at infinite distance. Finally, we recast strong-to-weak spontaneous symmetry breaking (SWSSB) of mixed states as an emergence of symmetries in ensemble averages; in holography, wormholes connecting the two sides of a thermofield-double construction provide its bulk realization. This motivates a new Swampland conjecture.
High Energy Physics - Theory (hep-th); Statistical Mechanics (cond-mat.stat-mech); Strongly Correlated Electrons (cond-mat.str-el); Quantum Physics (quant-ph)
arXiv:2609.36542 [hep-th]
(or arXiv:2609.36542v1 [hep-th] for this version)
https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2609.36542 arXiv-issued DOI via DataCite (pending registration)
Full text under the publisher's open licence · 196 words
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