Quasi-topological fractons: a 3D dipolar gauge theory
Abstract We consider the theory of a generic rank-2 tensor field in three spacetime dimensions, which involves a symmetric tensor field transforming under infinitesimal diffeomorphisms, and a vector field, whose gauge transformation depends on a local vector parameter. The gauge fixing shows a non-t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2025-01-01
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| Series: | European Physical Journal C: Particles and Fields |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-025-13821-x |
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| author | Erica Bertolini Alberto Blasi Nicola Maggiore |
| author_facet | Erica Bertolini Alberto Blasi Nicola Maggiore |
| author_sort | Erica Bertolini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract We consider the theory of a generic rank-2 tensor field in three spacetime dimensions, which involves a symmetric tensor field transforming under infinitesimal diffeomorphisms, and a vector field, whose gauge transformation depends on a local vector parameter. The gauge fixing shows a non-trivial structure, and some non-intuitive possibilities are listed. Despite the fact that the theory is not topological, the energy-momentum tensor vanishes on-shell, which justifies the “quasi-topological” appellation we give to this theory. We show that the theory has three degrees of freedom. Moreover, we find an interesting physical interpretation, which consists in a generalized planar electromagnetism and in the emergence of two vector charges with restricted mobility. These are typical fractonic behaviours which can be related to the so-called traceless scalar and vector charge theories. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c7ceb9ed892746d4bd3697ba7c4c9af2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1434-6052 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Physical Journal C: Particles and Fields |
| spelling | doaj-art-c7ceb9ed892746d4bd3697ba7c4c9af22025-01-26T12:49:23ZengSpringerOpenEuropean Physical Journal C: Particles and Fields1434-60522025-01-0185111610.1140/epjc/s10052-025-13821-xQuasi-topological fractons: a 3D dipolar gauge theoryErica Bertolini0Alberto Blasi1Nicola Maggiore2School of Theoretical Physics, Dublin Institute for Advanced StudiesIstituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare-Sezione di GenovaIstituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare-Sezione di GenovaAbstract We consider the theory of a generic rank-2 tensor field in three spacetime dimensions, which involves a symmetric tensor field transforming under infinitesimal diffeomorphisms, and a vector field, whose gauge transformation depends on a local vector parameter. The gauge fixing shows a non-trivial structure, and some non-intuitive possibilities are listed. Despite the fact that the theory is not topological, the energy-momentum tensor vanishes on-shell, which justifies the “quasi-topological” appellation we give to this theory. We show that the theory has three degrees of freedom. Moreover, we find an interesting physical interpretation, which consists in a generalized planar electromagnetism and in the emergence of two vector charges with restricted mobility. These are typical fractonic behaviours which can be related to the so-called traceless scalar and vector charge theories.https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-025-13821-x |
| spellingShingle | Erica Bertolini Alberto Blasi Nicola Maggiore Quasi-topological fractons: a 3D dipolar gauge theory European Physical Journal C: Particles and Fields |
| title | Quasi-topological fractons: a 3D dipolar gauge theory |
| title_full | Quasi-topological fractons: a 3D dipolar gauge theory |
| title_fullStr | Quasi-topological fractons: a 3D dipolar gauge theory |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quasi-topological fractons: a 3D dipolar gauge theory |
| title_short | Quasi-topological fractons: a 3D dipolar gauge theory |
| title_sort | quasi topological fractons a 3d dipolar gauge theory |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-025-13821-x |
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