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arXiv · 2111.03973

Fractons in curved space

Akash Jain·Kristan Jensen
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Abstract

We consistently couple simple continuum field theories with fracton excitations to curved spacetime backgrounds. We consider homogeneous and isotropic fracton field theories, with a conserved $U(1)$ charge and dipole moment. Coupling to background fields allows us to consistently define a stress-energy tensor for these theories and obtain the respective Ward identities. Along the way, we find evidence for a mixed gauge-gravitational anomaly in the symmetric tensor gauge theory which naturally couples to conserved dipoles. Our results generalise to systems with arbitrarily higher conserved moments, in particular, a conserved quadrupole moment.

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Akash Jain, Kristan Jensen. 2021-11-06. Fractons in curved space. https://doi.org/10.21468/scipostphys.12.4.142

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