Symmetric mass generation and the Nielsen-Ninomiya theorem

TL;DR

This paper investigates the conditions under which symmetric mass generation can produce chiral fermions on the lattice without violating the Nielsen-Ninomiya theorem, highlighting the constraints for realizing chiral spectra.

Contribution

It formulates general constraints on chiral fermion spectra in lattice theories with interactions, analyzing when the Nielsen-Ninomiya theorem applies in the context of SMG phases.

Findings

Kinematical singularities can replace mirror poles in SMG phases.

Constraints are derived on the existence of chiral spectra in the presence of interactions.

If certain conditions are met, the fermion spectrum must be vector-like.

Abstract

The symmetric mass generation (SMG) approach to the construction of lattice chiral gauge theories attempts to use interactions to render mirror fermions massive without symmetry breaking, to obtain the desired chiral massless spectrum (before the gauge field is turned on). If the zeros that often replace the mirror poles of fermion two-point functions in an SMG phase are ``kinematical'' singularities, general constraints can be formulated on the existence of a chiral fermion spectrum which are valid in the presence of (non-gauge) interactions of arbitrary strength, including in any SMG phase. Constructing a one-particle lattice hamiltonian describing the fermion spectrum, we discuss the conditions for the applicability of the Nielsen-Ninomiya theorem to this hamiltonian. If these conditions are satisfied, the massless fermion spectrum must be vector-like.