Canonical gauges in higher gauge theory

Abstract

We study the problem of finding good gauges for connections in higher gauge theories. We find that, for $2$-connections in strict $2$-gauge theory and $3$-connections in $3$-gauge theory, there are local "Coulomb gauges" that are more canonical than in classical gauge theory. In particular, they are essentially unique, and no smallness of curvature is needed in the critical dimensions. We give natural definitions of $2$-Yang-Mills and $3$-Yang-Mills theory and find that the choice of good gauges makes them essentially linear. As an application, (anti-)selfdual $2$-connections over $B^6$ are always $2$-Yang-Mills, and (anti-)selfdual $3$-connections over $B^8$ are always $3$-Yang-Mills.