A toy model for $p$-form gauge symmetry

TL;DR

This paper introduces a simplified matrix-based toy model to study $p$-form gauge symmetry, capturing key features of the more complex functional space formulation.

Contribution

It presents a finite-dimensional matrix model that mimics the $p$-form gauge symmetry originally described in an infinite-dimensional functional space.

Findings

The toy model reproduces the essential structure of $p$-form gauge symmetry.

The non-abelian generalization is straightforward in the matrix model.

The model simplifies analysis of $p$-form gauge theories.

Abstract

The abelian $(p+1)$-form gauge field is inherently coupled to the $p$-brane worldvolume. After quantization, the corresponding $p$-form gauge transformation is associated with the local phase ambiguity of the $p$-brane wave functional. In essence, the $p$-form gauge symmetry can be realized as a special construction of the generic 0-form gauge symmetry in the functional space of $p$-brane configurations. The non-abelian generalization is straightforward in the functional space language. To simplify the analysis, we further introduce a toy model where the infinite dimensional functional space of $p$-brane configurations is replaced by a finite dimensional matrix space. After taking the symmetric trace in the matrix model, the original discussions of the $p$-form gauge symmetry can be inherited by the toy model.