Higher-rank generalizations of electrodynamics have recently attracted considerable attention because of their ability to host “fracton” excitations, with connections to both fracton topological order and gravity. However, the search for higher-rank gauge theories in experiment has been greatly hindered by the lack of materially relevant microscopic models. Here we show how a spin liquid described by rank-2 $U(1)$ gauge theory can arise in a magnet on the breathing pyrochlore lattice. We identify Yb-based breathing pyrochlores as candidate systems, and make explicit predictions for how the rank-2 $U(1)$ spin liquid would manifest itself in experiment.

中文翻译：

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呼吸性烧绿石晶格上的Rank–2U（1）自旋液体

电动力学的高级概括最近吸引了相当大的关注，因为它们能够承载“分数”激发，并且与分数拓扑顺序和重力都有联系。然而，由于缺乏实质相关的微观模型，极大地阻碍了在实验中寻求更高等级的理论。在这里，我们展示了如何用等级2描述旋转液体$ü（\mathrm{1个}）$规范理论可以出现在呼吸性烧绿石晶格上的一块磁铁中。我们确定基于Yb的呼吸烧绿石为候选系统，并对等级2做出明确的预测$ü（\mathrm{1个}）$ 旋转液体会在实验中显示出来。