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  • Open Access

Fractonic solids

Akash Jain*

  • Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Amsterdam, 1090 GL Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Dutch Institute for Emergent Phenomena, 1090 GL Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and Institute for Advanced Study, University of Amsterdam, 1012 GC Amsterdam, The Netherlands

  • *Contact author: ajain@uva.nl

Phys. Rev. D 113, 105015 – Published 21 May, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/jdnr-cwpy

Abstract

Fractons are exotic quasiparticles whose mobility in space is restricted by symmetries. In potential real-world realizations, fractons are likely lodged to a physical material rather than absolute space. Motivated by this, we propose and explore a new symmetry principle that restricts the motion of fractons relative to a physical solid. Unlike models with restricted mobility in absolute space, these fractonic solids admit gauge-invariant momentum density, are compatible with boost symmetry, and can consistently be coupled to gravity. We also propose a holographic model for fractonic solids.

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