Eductions of Edge Mode Effects

Abstract

Edge modes in gauge theories, whose raison d'etre is in the nature of the test functions used for imposing the Gauss law, have implications in many physical contexts. I discuss two such cases: 1) how edge modes are related to the interface term in the BFK formula and how they generate the so-called contact term for entanglement entropy in gauge theories, 2) how they describe the dynamics of particles in generalizing the Einstein-Infeld-Hoffmann approach to particle dynamics in theories of gravity.

11 pages, To be published in "Particles, Fields and Topology: Celebrating A.P. Balachandran", a Festschrift volume for A.P. Balachandran