Higher-form symmetry perspective on fracton phases

ORAL

Abstract

Higher form symmetry provides a framework to understand some aspects of topologically ordered phases. Motivated by this, we study the role that higher form symmetry plays in the context of fracton phases. We introduce the notion of a non-faithful higher form symmetry and describe how fractons can arise via condensation of objects charged under such a symmetry. Finally we describe how such a non-faithful higher form symmetry can arise as a quotient of an ordinary higher-form symmetry via gauging certain subgroups.

*This research is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences under Award number DE-SC0014415 prior to September 2019, and by the Department of Defense through the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship (NDSEG) program beginning September 2019.

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Presenters

  • Marvin Qi

    • University of Colorado, Boulder

Authors

  • Marvin Qi

    • University of Colorado, Boulder

  • Leo Radzihovsky

    • University of Colorado, Boulder
    • Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder

  • Michael A Hermele

    • University of Colorado, Boulder
    • Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder