Reuse & Permissions

It is not necessary to obtain permission to reuse this article or its components as it is available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI are maintained. Please note that some figures may have been included with permission from other third parties. It is your responsibility to obtain the proper permission from the rights holder directly for these figures.

Export citation

Export citation

Choose format for download:

Download Citation
  • Open Access

Discrete gauging and noninvertible selection rules

Jun Dong1,*, Tim Jeric1,†, Tatsuo Kobayashi1,‡, Ryusei Nishida1,§, and Hajime Otsuka2,3,∥

  • 1Department of Physics, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan
  • 2Department of Physics, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
  • 3Quantum and Spacetime Research Institute (QuaSR), Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, 819-0395, Japan

  • *Contact author: j-dong@particle.sci.hokudai.ac.jp
  • †Contact author: t-jeric@particle.sci.hokudai.ac.jp
  • ‡Contact author: kobayashi@particle.sci.hokudai.ac.jp
  • §Contact author: r-nishida@particle.sci.hokudai.ac.jp
  • ∥Contact author: otsuka.hajime@phys.kyushu-u.ac.jp

Phys. Rev. D 113, 056028 – Published 30 March, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/nsvv-l2dy

Abstract

We clarify selection rules of conjugacy classes of several finite discrete groups where we deal with both gauged and ungauged cases. We find that the selection rules enjoy finite Abelian or non-Abelian discrete symmetries originating from the inner and/or outer automorphism of underlying discrete groups. Since the selection rules of conjugacy classes do not obey conventional grouplike selection rules, they open up new coupling selection rules of fields which are labeled by the conjugacy classes.

View figure in article

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Article Text

References (62)

  1. R. Dijkgraaf, E. P. Verlinde, and H. L. Verlinde, C=1 conformal field theories on Riemann surfaces, Commun. Math. Phys. 115, 649 (1988).
  2. T. Kobayashi, S. Raby, and R.-J. Zhang, Searching for realistic 4d string models with a Pati-Salam symmetry: Orbifold grand unified theories from heterotic string compactification on a Z(6) orbifold, Nucl. Phys. B704, 3 (2005).
  3. T. Kobayashi, H. P. Nilles, F. Ploger, S. Raby, and M. Ratz, Stringy origin of non-Abelian discrete flavor symmetries, Nucl. Phys. B768, 135 (2007).
  4. F. Beye, T. Kobayashi, and S. Kuwakino, Gauge origin of discrete flavor symmetries in heterotic orbifolds, Phys. Lett. B 736, 433 (2014).
  5. R. Thorngren and Y. Wang, Fusion category symmetry. Part II. Categoriosities at c=1 and beyond, J. High Energy Phys. 07 (2024) 051.
  6. J. J. Heckman, J. McNamara, M. Montero, A. Sharon, C. Vafa, and I. Valenzuela, On the fate of stringy noninvertible symmetries, Phys. Rev. D 110, 106001 (2024).
  7. J. Kaidi, Y. Tachikawa, and H. Y. Zhang, On a class of selection rules without group actions in field theory and string theory, SciPost Phys. 17, 169 (2024).
  8. T. Kobayashi and H. Otsuka, Non-invertible flavor symmetries in magnetized extra dimensions, J. High Energy Phys. 11 (2024) 120.
  9. S. Funakoshi, T. Kobayashi, and H. Otsuka, Quantum aspects of non-invertible flavor symmetries in intersecting/magnetized D-brane models, J. High Energy Phys. 04 (2025) 183.
  10. E. P. Verlinde, Fusion rules and modular transformations in 2D conformal field theory, Nucl. Phys. B300, 360 (1988).
  11. G. W. Moore and N. Seiberg, Classical and quantum conformal field theory, Commun. Math. Phys. 123, 177 (1989).
  12. G. W. Moore and N. Seiberg, Taming the conformal zoo, Phys. Lett. B 220, 422 (1989).
  13. J. Fuchs, Fusion rules in conformal field theory, Fortschr. Phys. 42, 1 (1994).
  14. L. Bhardwaj and Y. Tachikawa, On finite symmetries and their gauging in two dimensions, J. High Energy Phys. 03 (2018) 189.
  15. J. Dong, T. Kobayashi, R. Nishida, S. Nishimura, and H. Otsuka, Coupling selection rules in heterotic Calabi-Yau compactifications, J. High Energy Phys. 09 (2025) 012.
  16. S. Schafer-Nameki, ICTP lectures on (non-)invertible generalized symmetries, Phys. Rep. 1063, 1 (2024).
  17. S.-H. Shao, What’s done cannot be undone: TASI lectures on non-invertible symmetries, arXiv:2308.00747.
  18. Y. Choi, H. T. Lam, and S.-H. Shao, Noninvertible global symmetries in the standard model, Phys. Rev. Lett. 129, 161601 (2022).
  19. C. Cordova, S. Hong, S. Koren, and K. Ohmori, Neutrino masses from generalized symmetry breaking, Phys. Rev. X 14, 031033 (2024).
  20. C. Cordova and K. Ohmori, Noninvertible chiral symmetry and exponential hierarchies, Phys. Rev. X 13, 011034 (2023).
  21. C. Cordova, S. Hong, and S. Koren, Noninvertible Peccei-Quinn symmetry and the massless quark solution to the strong CP problem, Phys. Rev. X 15, 031011 (2025).
  22. T. Kobayashi, H. Otsuka, and M. Tanimoto, Yukawa textures from non-invertible symmetries, J. High Energy Phys. 12 (2024) 117.
  23. T. Kobayashi, Y. Nishioka, H. Otsuka, and M. Tanimoto, More about quark Yukawa textures from selection rules without group actions, J. High Energy Phys. 05 (2025) 177.
  24. M. Suzuki and L.-X. Xu, Phenomenological implications of a class of non-invertible selection rules, arXiv:2503.19964.
  25. Q. Liang and T. T. Yanagida, Non-invertible symmetry as an axion-less solution to the strong CP problem, Phys. Lett. B 868, 139706 (2025).
  26. T. Kobayashi, H. Otsuka, M. Tanimoto, and H. Uchida, Lepton mass textures from non-invertible multiplication rules, J. High Energy Phys. 08 (2025) 189.
  27. T. Kobayashi, H. Okada, and H. Otsuka, Radiative neutrino mass models from non-invertible selection rules, J. High Energy Phys. 12 (2025) 111.
  28. T. Nomura and H. Okada, Radiative lepton seesaw model in a non-invertible fusion rule and gauged B−L symmetry, arXiv:2506.16706.
  29. T. Kobayashi, H. Mita, H. Otsuka, and R. Sakuma, Matter symmetries in supersymmetric standard models from non-invertible selection rules, arXiv:2506.10241.
  30. T. Kobayashi, H. Otsuka, and T. T. Yanagida, Non-invertible symmetry as a solution to the strong CP problem in a GUT-inspired standard model, arXiv:2508.12287.
  31. T. Kobayashi, H. Otsuka, M. Tanimoto, and T. T. Yanagida, GUT-motivated non-invertible symmetry as a solution to the strong CP problem and the neutrino CP-violating phase, arXiv:2510.01680.
  32. K. Inoue, M. Sakamoto, and H. Takano, NonAbelian orbifolds, Prog. Theor. Phys. 78, 908 (1987).
  33. K. Inoue, S. Nima, and H. Takano, Zero mode and modular invariance in string on nonAbelian orbifold, Prog. Theor. Phys. 80, 881 (1988).
  34. K. Inoue and S. Nima, String interactions on nonAbelian orbifold, Prog. Theor. Phys. 84, 702 (1990).
  35. S. J. H. Konopka, Non Abelian orbifold compactifications of the heterotic string, J. High Energy Phys. 07 (2013) 023.
  36. M. Fischer, M. Ratz, J. Torrado, and P. K. S. Vaudrevange, Classification of symmetric toroidal orbifolds, J. High Energy Phys. 01 (2013) 084.
  37. M. Fischer, S. Ramos-Sanchez, and P. K. S. Vaudrevange, Heterotic non-Abelian orbifolds, J. High Energy Phys. 07 (2013) 080.
  38. S. Funakoshi, Y. Koga, and H. Otsuka, Classification of modular symmetries in non-supersymmetric heterotic string theories, arXiv:2503.23741.
  39. M. Hernandez-Segura and S. Ramos-Sanchez, Non-Abelian orbifolds of the SO(32) heterotic string, Phys. Rev. D 112, 066002 (2025).
  40. T. Kobayashi, R. Nishida, and H. Otsuka, Non-invertible selection rules on heterotic non-Abelian orbifolds, arXiv:2509.10019.
  41. H. Abe, K.-S. Choi, T. Kobayashi, and H. Ohki, Non-Abelian discrete flavor symmetries from magnetized/intersecting brane models, Nucl. Phys. B820, 317 (2009).
  42. M. Berasaluce-Gonzalez, P. G. Camara, F. Marchesano, D. Regalado, and A. M. Uranga, Non-Abelian discrete gauge symmetries in 4D string models, J. High Energy Phys. 09 (2012) 059.
  43. F. Marchesano, D. Regalado, and L. Vazquez-Mercado, Discrete flavor symmetries in D-brane models, J. High Energy Phys. 09 (2013) 028.
  44. H. Abe, T. Kobayashi, and H. Ohki, Magnetized orbifold models, J. High Energy Phys. 09 (2008) 043.
  45. H. Ishimori, T. Kobayashi, H. Ohki, Y. Shimizu, H. Okada, and M. Tanimoto, Non-Abelian discrete symmetries in particle physics, Prog. Theor. Phys. Suppl. 183, 1 (2010).
  46. T. Kobayashi, H. Ohki, H. Okada, Y. Shimizu, and M. Tanimoto, An Introduction to Non-Abelian Discrete Symmetries for Particle Physicists (Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, 2022), 10.1007/978-3-662-64679-3.
  47. S. Hamidi and C. Vafa, Interactions on orbifolds, Nucl. Phys. B279, 465 (1987).
  48. L. J. Dixon, D. Friedan, E. J. Martinec, and S. H. Shenker, The conformal field theory of orbifolds, Nucl. Phys. B282, 13 (1987).
  49. T.-H. Abe, Y. Fujimoto, T. Kobayashi, T. Miura, K. Nishiwaki, and M. Sakamoto, ZN twisted orbifold models with magnetic flux, J. High Energy Phys. 01 (2014) 065.
  50. T. Abe, Y. Fujimoto, T. Kobayashi, T. Miura, K. Nishiwaki, and M. Sakamoto, Operator analysis of physical states on magnetized T2/ZN orbifolds, Nucl. Phys. B890, 442 (2014).
  51. T. Kobayashi and S. Nagamoto, Zero-modes on orbifolds: Magnetized orbifold models by modular transformation, Phys. Rev. D 96, 096011 (2017).
  52. M. Holthausen, M. Lindner, and M. A. Schmidt, CP and discrete flavour symmetries, J. High Energy Phys. 04 (2013) 122.
  53. M. Fallbacher and A. Trautner, Symmetries of symmetries and geometrical CP violation, Nucl. Phys. B894, 136 (2015).
  54. L. M. Krauss and F. Wilczek, Discrete gauge symmetry in continuum theories, Phys. Rev. Lett. 62, 1221 (1989).
  55. L. E. Ibanez and G. G. Ross, Discrete gauge symmetry anomalies, Phys. Lett. B 260, 291 (1991).
  56. T. Banks and M. Dine, Note on discrete gauge anomalies, Phys. Rev. D 45, 1424 (1992).
  57. T. Araki, T. Kobayashi, J. Kubo, S. Ramos-Sanchez, M. Ratz, and P. K. S. Vaudrevange, (Non-)Abelian discrete anomalies, Nucl. Phys. B805, 124 (2008).
  58. M.-C. Chen, M. Fallbacher, M. Ratz, A. Trautner, and P. K. S. Vaudrevange, Anomaly-safe discrete groups, Phys. Lett. B 747, 22 (2015).
  59. T. Kobayashi and H. Uchida, Anomaly of non-Abelian discrete symmetries, Phys. Rev. D 105, 036018 (2022).
  60. P. H. Frampton, S. L. Glashow, and D. Marfatia, Zeroes of the neutrino mass matrix, Phys. Lett. B 536, 79 (2002).
  61. H. Fritzsch, Z.-z. Xing, and S. Zhou, Two-zero textures of the Majorana neutrino mass matrix and current experimental tests, J. High Energy Phys. 09 (2011) 083.
  62. T. Kobayashi and H. Otsuka, Generalized CP from non-invertible selection rules, arXiv:2512.16376.

Outline

Information

Sign In to Your Journals Account

Filter

Filter

Article Lookup

Enter a citation