Higher Gauge Theories Based on 3-groups

Abstract

We study the categorical generalizations of a $BF$ theory to $2BF$ and $3BF$ theories, corresponding to $2$-groups and $3$-groups, in the framework of higher gauge theory. In particular, we construct the constrained $3BF$ actions describing the correct dynamics of Yang-Mills, Klein-Gordon, Dirac, Weyl and Majorana fields coupled to Einstein-Cartan gravity. The action is naturally split into a topological sector and a sector with simplicity constraints, adapted to the spinfoam quantization programme. In addition, the structure of the $3$-group gives rise to a novel gauge group which specifies the spectrum of matter fields present in the theory, just like the ordinary gauge group specifies the spectrum of gauge bosons in the Yang-Mills theory. This allows us to rewrite the whole Standard Model coupled to gravity as a constrained $3BF$ action, facilitating the nonperturbative quantization of both gravity and matter fields. Moreover, the presence and the properties of this new gauge group open up a possibility of a nontrivial unification of all fields and a possible explanation of fermion families and all other structure in the matter spectrum of the theory.