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Higher gauge theory with string 2-groups. (English) Zbl 1460.81058

Summary: We give a complete and explicit description of the kinematical data of higher gauge theory on principal 2-bundles with the string 2-group model of Schommer-Pries as structure 2-group. We start with a self-contained review of the weak 2-category \(\mathsf{Bibun}\) of Lie groupoids, bibundles and bibundle morphisms. We then construct categories internal to \(\mathsf{Bibun}\), which allow us to define principal 2-bundles with 2-groups internal to \(\mathsf{Bibun}\) as structure 2-groups. Using these, we Lie-differentiate the 2-group model of the string group and we obtain the well-known string Lie 2-algebra. Generalizing the differentiation process, we find Maurer-Cartan forms leading us to higher non-abelian Deligne cohomology, encoding the kinematical data of higher gauge theory together with their (finite) gauge symmetries. We end by discussing an example of non-abelian self-dual strings in this setting.

MSC:

81T13 Yang-Mills and other gauge theories in quantum field theory
81T30 String and superstring theories; other extended objects (e.g., branes) in quantum field theory
70S15 Yang-Mills and other gauge theories in mechanics of particles and systems
14D21 Applications of vector bundles and moduli spaces in mathematical physics (twistor theory, instantons, quantum field theory)
17B81 Applications of Lie (super)algebras to physics, etc.
22A22 Topological groupoids (including differentiable and Lie groupoids)