Fractons, symmetric gauge fields and geometry

Abstract

Gapless fracton phases are characterized by the conservation of certain charges and their higher moments. These charges generically couple to higher rank gauge fields. In this paper we study systems conserving charge and dipole moment, and construct the corresponding gauge fields propagating in arbitrary curved backgrounds. The relation between the symmetries of these class of systems and spacetime transformations is discussed. In fact, we argue that higher rank symmetric gauge theories are closer to gravitational fields than to a standard gauge theory.