2-Group Symmetries and M-Theory

Authors: Michele Del Zotto, Iñaki García Etxebarria, Sakura Schäfer-Nameki

Preprint: UUITP-17/22

Quantum Field Theories engineered in M-theory can have 2-group symmetries, mixing 0-form and 1-form symmetry backgrounds in non-trivial ways. In this paper we develop methods for determining the 2-group structure from the boundary geometry of the M-theory background. We illustrate these methods in the case of 5d theories arising from M-theory on ordinary and generalised toric Calabi-Yau cones, including cases in which the resulting theory is non-Lagrangian. Our results confirm and elucidate previous results on 2-groups from geometric engineering.