Power of Generalized Symmetries

Yunqin Zheng, Stony Brook University and Kavli Institute for Theoretical Sciences

Symmetry and the symmetry principle are fundamental to many aspects of physics. The conventional symmetry principle has been successful in condensed matter, high-energy, nuclear physics, and other disciplines, giving rise to important concepts such as the symmetry breaking, the Higgs mechanism, quantum anomalies and many others. Recent years have witnessed rapid developments in the generalized notion of symmetries, known as generalized symmetries. I will review these recent developments and explain the new concept of generalized symmetry through a simple spin chain on a one-dimensional lattice.