Hybrid rank-1 and rank-2 U(1) lattice gauge theory, the F3 model, and its effective field theory

Abstract

A number of exactly solvable spin models, including the Kitaev toric code in two and three dimensions and the X-cube model in three dimensions, can be related to their respective parent lattice gauge theories (LGT) through the mathematical process of 'Higgsing'. Field theories of the low-energy excitations of these spin models can be developed subsequently, building upon the symmetry of the parent LGTs. Recently, two of the present authors proposed a variant of the three-dimensional toric code which we now call the F3 model, whose elementary excitations consist of freeon and fluxon excitations of the three-dimensional toric code and fracton excitations of the X-cube model. In this work, we identify the parent LGT of the F3 model as the hybrid rank-1 and rank-2 U(1) LGT, and develop the corresponding field theory. The resulting Lagrangian of the F3 model is that of a three-dimensional toric code with an extra term, which ties the dynamics of fractons to that of fluxons. The matter part of the effective action for the F3 model can be derived as well, by carefully keeping track of the gauge invariance of the F3 model. Hydrodynamic equations of motion of the quasiparticles are derived, which properly reflect their constrained dynamics. Finally, we present a tight-binding model for the quasiparticle motion in the F3 model.