Fractonic self-duality and covariant magnetic fractons

Erica Bertolini; Giandomenico Palumbo

doi:10.1016/j.aop.2025.170138

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arXiv · 2501.18510

Fractonic self-duality and covariant magnetic fractons

Erica Bertolini·Giandomenico Palumbo

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Abstract

Fractons, excitations with restricted mobility, have emerged as a novel paradigm in high-energy and condensed matter physics, revealing deep connections to gauge theories and gravity. Here, we propose a tensorial generalization of electromagnetic duality using a doubled-potential framework with two symmetric tensor gauge fields. This approach symmetrically describes electric and magnetic sectors, introducing covariant magnetic fractons with reduced mobility and supporting a genuine fractonic self-duality. Notably, we find the absence of a Witten-like effect in the covariant fractonic case, precluding the emergence of fractonic dyons.

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Erica Bertolini, Giandomenico Palumbo. 2025-01-30. Fractonic self-duality and covariant magnetic fractons. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aop.2025.170138

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