# Fractons in curved space

### Submission summary

 As Contributors: Akash Jain · Kristan Jensen Arxiv Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2111.03973v2 (pdf) Date accepted: 2022-04-11 Date submitted: 2022-02-02 19:52 Submitted by: Jensen, Kristan Submitted to: SciPost Physics Academic field: Physics Specialties: High-Energy Physics - Theory Approach: Theoretical

### Abstract

We consistently couple simple continuum field theories with fracton excitations to curved spacetime backgrounds. We consider homogeneous and isotropic fracton field theories, with a conserved $U(1)$ charge and dipole moment. Coupling to background fields allows us to consistently define a stress-energy tensor for these theories and obtain the respective Ward identities. Along the way, we find evidence for a mixed gauge-gravitational anomaly in the symmetric tensor gauge theory which naturally couples to conserved dipoles. Our results generalise to systems with arbitrarily higher conserved moments, in particular, a conserved quadrupole moment.

Published as SciPost Phys. 12, 142 (2022)

### Submission & Refereeing History

#### Published as SciPost Phys. 12, 142 (2022)

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Submission 2111.03973v2 on 2 February 2022

## Reports on this Submission

### Anonymous Report 2 on 2022-4-2 (Invited Report)

• Cite as: Anonymous, Report on arXiv:2111.03973v2, delivered 2022-04-02, doi: 10.21468/SciPost.Report.4845

### Strengths

1. The authors develop the formalism to couple fractons to curved space-times
2. The paper provides a first step towards a systematic study of anomalies of fracton theories

### Weaknesses

1. The focus is mainly on the formalism without much emphasis of the underlying physical realizations and relevance
2. The main message that fractons cannot be coupled to curved geometries is already known in the community

### Report

The paper may be of use to the sub-community of high-energy physicists interested in the formal aspects of higher-rank gauge theories. It meets the formal criteria of SciPost and I recommend it for publication.

• validity: high
• significance: ok
• originality: good
• clarity: good
• formatting: excellent
• grammar: excellent

### Strengths

The paper explores an interesting question in fracton field theories: their couplings to background geometry.

None

### Report

The paper is addressing an interesting problem, and provides some concrete results in this direction. It is worthy of publication.

• validity: high
• significance: high
• originality: high
• clarity: high
• formatting: excellent
• grammar: excellent