TY - JOUR
T1 - Discrete gauge symmetry in continuum theories
AU - Krauss, Lawrence M.
AU - Wilczek, Frank
PY - 1989/1/1
Y1 - 1989/1/1
N2 - We point out that local symmetries can masquerade as discrete global symmetries to an observer equipped with only low-energy probes. The existence of the underlying local gauge invariance can, however, result in observable Aharonov-Bohm-type effects. Black holes can therefore carry discrete gauge charges a form of nonclassical hair Neither black-hole evaporation, wormholes, nor anything else can violate discrete gauge symmetries. In supersymmetric unified theories such discrete symmetries can forbid proton-decay amplitudes that might otherwise be catastrophic.
AB - We point out that local symmetries can masquerade as discrete global symmetries to an observer equipped with only low-energy probes. The existence of the underlying local gauge invariance can, however, result in observable Aharonov-Bohm-type effects. Black holes can therefore carry discrete gauge charges a form of nonclassical hair Neither black-hole evaporation, wormholes, nor anything else can violate discrete gauge symmetries. In supersymmetric unified theories such discrete symmetries can forbid proton-decay amplitudes that might otherwise be catastrophic.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=32644440298&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=32644440298&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.62.1221
DO - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.62.1221
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:32644440298
VL - 62
SP - 1221
EP - 1223
JO - Physical Review Letters
JF - Physical Review Letters
SN - 0031-9007
IS - 11
ER -