Year: 2023
Type: article
Abstract: We extend recent work on hydrodynamics with global multipolar symmetries — known as “fracton hydrodynamics” — to systems in which the multipolar symmetries are gauged. We refer to the latter as “fracton magnetohydrodynamics”, in analogy to conventional magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), which governs systems with gauged charge conservation. We show that fracton MHD arises naturally from higher-rank Maxwell’s equations and in systems with one-form symmetries obeying certain constraints; while we focus on “minimal” higher-rank generalizations of MHD that realize diffusion, our methods may also be used to identify other, more exotic hydrodynamic theories (e.g., with magnetic subdiffusion). In contrast to semi-microscopic derivations of MHD, our approach elucidates the origin of the hydrodynamic modes by identifying the corresponding higher-form symmetries. Being rooted in symmetries, the hydrodynamic modes may persist even when the semi-microscopic equations no longer provide an accurate description of the system.
Source: SciPost Physics
Authors: Marvin Qi, Oliver Hart, Aaron J. Friedman, Rahul Nandkishore, Andrew Lucas
Institution: University of Colorado Boulder
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4323651900