Fractons: A New Type of Particle

Abstract: A fracton is an unusual new type of emergent quasiparticle found in various condensed matter systems. Fractons are characterized by a set of mobility restrictions, which force isolated fractons to be strictly immobile, while certain bound states of fractons remain free to move. This behavior leads to a variety of unusual phenomenology, such as non-ergodic and gravitational behavior, and may lead to advances in quantum memory storage. In this talk, I will give a broad overview of the field of fractons, including both introductory material and recent advances. I will describe the basics of the theoretical formalism for fractons in terms of tensor gauge theories and higher moment conservation laws. I will then discuss various physical realizations of fractons, such as spin models and topological lattice defects, along with the unusual phenomenology exhibited by fractons. I will conclude by outlining some open questions in the field.

cosmology and nongalactic astrophysicsother condensed matterquantum gasesstrongly correlated electronssuperconductivitygeneral relativity and quantum cosmologyHEP - theory

Audience: researchers in the topic

Carnegie Mellon theoretical physics