The Higher Structure of Symmetries of Axion-Maxwell Theory

Abstract: Generalized symmetries of quantum field theories can be characterized by topological defects/operators organized into a higher category. In this paper we consider the Axion-Maxwell field theory in four dimensions and, building on the construction of its topological defects by Choi, Lam, Shao, Hidaka, Nitta and Yokokura, we discuss field theoretical methods to compute some aspects of the higher structure of such category. In particular, we determine explicitly the generalized F-symbols for the non-invertible electric 1-form symmetry of the theory. Along the way, we clarify various aspects of the bottom-up worldvolume approach towards the calculus of defects.