Gapless edge modes in (4+1)-dimensional topologically massive tensor gauge theory and anomaly inflow for subsystem symmetry

TL;DR

This paper explores a (4+1)-dimensional topologically massive tensor gauge theory, revealing boundary and corner phenomena with gapless and chiral modes protected by anomaly inflow related to subsystem symmetry.

Contribution

It introduces a novel higher-dimensional tensor gauge theory and uncovers boundary and corner gapless modes linked to subsystem symmetry anomaly inflow.

Findings

Boundary hosts a (3+1)-dimensional chiral gapless theory.

Corners contain an infinite number of (1+1)-dimensional chiral bosons.

The boundary and corner modes are protected by anomaly inflow mechanisms.

Abstract

We consider (4+1)-dimensional topologically massive tensor gauge theory. This theory is an analog of the (2+1)-dimensional topologically massive Maxwell-Chern-Simons theory. If the space has a boundary, we find that a (3+1)-dimensional gapless theory appears at the boundary. This gapless theory is a chiral version of the (3+1)-dimensional $\varphi$ theory. This gapless theory is protected by the anomaly inflow mechanism of subsystem symmetry. We also consider the corner of our topologically massive tensor gauge theory, and find that an infinite number of (1+1)-dimensional chiral bosons appear at the corner.