Nonperturbative signatures of fractons in the twisted multiflavor Schwinger Model

Abstract

Gauge-field configurations with nontrivial topology have profound consequences for the physics of Abelian and non-Abelian gauge theories. Over time, arguments have been gathering for the existence of gauge-field configurations with fractional topological charge, called fractons. Ground-state properties of gauge theories can drastically change in presence of fractons in the path integral. However, understanding the origin of such fractons is usually restricted to semiclassical argumentation. Here, we show that fractons persist in strongly correlated many-body systems, using the multiflavor Schwinger model of quantum electrodynamics as a paradigm example. Through detailed numerical tensor-network analysis, we find strong fracton signatures even in highly discretized lattice models, at sizes that are implementable on already existing quantum-simulation devices. Our work sheds light on how the nontrivial topology of gauge theories persists in challenging nonperturbative regimes, and it shows a path forward to probing it in tabletop experiments.

Revised as a regular PRD article. Fig. 1 caption now explains all curves; Fig. 2 updated and chiral condensate inconsistency fixed. Quantum simulation section expanded with a variational circuit for trapped-ion qudits and benchmarks. Appendix includes scaling with bond dimension and lattice spacing. Typos and phrasing improved; new references added

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