Fractons: A New Playground for Condensed Matter Physics

Dr. Abhinav Prem, Institute for Advanced Study

A central theme in modern condensed matter physics is the search for zero-temperature phases of matter. Recent years have witnessed remarkable progress in this direction, leading to both experimental discoveries of new quantum phases and the development of theoretical frameworks for classifying and characterising them. Alongside symmetry, the topology of quantum many-body wavefunctions is key to understanding certain quantum phases, which are called “topological phases” of matter. In this talk, I will begin by surveying the current landscape of such phases and then discuss the exciting recent discovery of a novel class of systems – “fractons” – that fall outside existing paradigms and constitute a new frontier for theorists and experimentalists alike. The defining feature of these systems is that they host quasi-particles which are either entirely immobile or have severely restricted mobility. Through toy models, I will show that this property endows fracton phases with glassy dynamics and discuss implications for quantum information storage and processing. Finally, I will discuss an experimentally feasible setting where the slow dynamics associated with these exotic phases can be observed.