Symmetric Mass Generation in Lattice Gauge Theory

TL;DR

This paper introduces a four-dimensional lattice gauge theory where fermions gain mass through gauge interactions without breaking symmetries, using a novel fermion representation and numerical evidence of condensate formation.

Contribution

It presents a new lattice gauge theory model with reduced staggered fermions in a bifundamental representation that enables symmetric mass generation without symmetry breaking.

Findings

Numerical results show a condensate of a symmetric four fermion operator develops.

Single site bilinear mass terms vanish due to fermion representation.

The model demonstrates mass generation via gauge interactions without symmetry breaking.

Abstract

We construct a four dimensional lattice gauge theory in which fermions acquire mass without breaking symmetries as a result of gauge interactions. Our model consists of reduced staggered fermions transforming in the bifundamental representation of a $SU(2)\times SU(2)$ gauge symmetry. This fermion representation ensures that single site bilinear mass terms vanish identically. A symmetric four fermion operator is however allowed and we show numerical results that show that a condensate of this operator develops in the vacuum.