  Gauge-field configurations with non-trivial 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 semi-classical 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 non-trivial topology of gauge theories persists in challenging
non-perturbative regimes, and it shows a path forward to probing it in
table-top experiments.
