1-form symmetry versus large N QCD

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that large N QCD lacks an emergent $ ext{Z}_N$ 1-form symmetry, indicating the need for a broader framework of generalized global symmetries to understand confinement.

Contribution

It challenges the assumption of emergent 1-form symmetries in large N QCD and suggests extending the concept of generalized global symmetries for confinement understanding.

Findings

Large N QCD does not exhibit an emergent $ ext{Z}_N$ 1-form symmetry.

Current symmetry frameworks are insufficient to fully explain confinement in QCD.

A new approach to symmetries may be necessary for a better understanding of confinement.

Abstract

We show that large N QCD does not have an emergent $\mathbb{Z}_N$ 1-form symmetry. Our results suggest that a symmetry-based understanding of (approximate) confinement in QCD would require some further generalization of the notion of generalized global symmetries.