Speaker
Description
Axion electrodynamics in vacuum exhibits rich generalized global symmetries, including higher-form symmetries, higher-group structures, and non-invertible symmetries. However, a universal description of real-time dynamics of axion electrodynamics has not been established, and generalized symmetries in this nonequilibrium regime remain poorly understood.
We construct a nonequilibrium effective field theory for axion electrodynamics using the Schwinger–Keldysh formalism, which provides a systematic framework for real-time dynamics. By imposing dynamical Kubo–Martin–Schwinger symmetry—an emergent symmetry of near-equilibrium dynamics—we incorporate fluctuation-dissipation relations and Onsager reciprocal relations. We then explore the generalized global symmetries of the resulting theory and discuss the possible emergence of novel symmetry structures specific to nonequilibrium dynamics.