Topological axion electrodynamics and 4-group symmetry

We study higher-form symmetries and a higher group in $(3+1)$-dimensional axion electrodynamics where the axion and photon are massive. A topological field theory describing topological excitations with the axion-photon coupling is obtained in the low energy limit, in which higher-form symmetries are specified. By using intersections of the symmetry generators, we find that the worldvolume of an axionic domain wall is topologically ordered. We further specify the underlying mathematical structure elegantly describing all salient features of the theory to be a 4-group.