Immobile topological quantum matter: fractons

Immobile topological quantum matter: fractons
Leo Radzihovsky, Physics Dept., University of Colorado, Boulder
Leo Radzihovsky
Date and time: Thu, Oct 27, 2022 - 11:30am
Refreshments at 11:15am
Location: LGRT 1033
Category: Condensed Matter Seminar
Abstract:

I will discuss a bourgeoning field of "fractons" — a class of models where quasi-particles are strictly immobile or display restricted mobility. Focusing on just a corner of this fast-growing subject, I will explain how one class of such theories — symmetric tensor gauge theories surprisingly emerge from seemingly mundane elasticity of a two-dimensional quantum crystal. The disclination and dislocation crystal defects respectively map onto charges and dipoles of the fracton gauge theory. This fracton-elasticity duality leads to predictions of fractonic phases and quantum phase transitions to their descendants, that are duals of the commensurate crystal, supersolid, smectic, and hexatic liquid crystals. Extensions of this duality to generalized elasticity theories provide a route to discovery of new fractonic models and their potential experimental realizations.