The identification of a new category of particles may advance quantum mechanics to the next level.

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In the intriguing realm of quantum physics, subatomic particles often defy the conventional laws of physics. They have the astonishing ability to be in multiple locations simultaneously, traverse solid objects, and transmit information instantaneously over great distances. While these phenomena might appear to be beyond belief, researchers in the quantum domain are investigating a variety of characteristics that were once considered unattainable.

A recent study conducted by physicists at Brown University has revealed the existence of a new category of quantum particles known as fractional excitons. These particles exhibit unusual behaviors that could greatly enhance researchers' comprehension of the quantum domain.

"Our research suggests the existence of a completely new category of quantum particles that possess no net charge and adhere to distinct quantum statistical behaviors," stated Jia Li, an associate professor of physics at Brown University.

"The most thrilling aspect of this discovery is that it reveals a variety of new quantum phases of matter, paving the way for future research, enhancing our comprehension of fundamental physics, and potentially creating new opportunities in the realm of quantum computing."

Along with Li, the research was carried out by three graduate students—Naiyuan Zhang, Ron Nguyen and Navketan Batra—and Dima Feldman, a professor of physics at Brown. Zhang, Nguyen and Batra are co-first authors of the paper, which was published in Nature on Wednesday, Jan. 8.

The team's research focuses on a phenomenon called the fractional quantum Hall effect, which extends the principles of the classical Hall effect. In the classical Hall effect, when a magnetic field is applied to a material carrying an electric current, it results in the generation of a transverse voltage.

The quantum Hall effect, observed under conditions of very low temperatures and strong magnetic fields, reveals that the lateral voltage rises in distinct, discrete increments. In the case of the fractional quantum Hall effect, these increments take on an even more unusual nature, as they rise by fractional values—representing a fraction of the charge of an electron.

In their study, the researchers created a configuration consisting of two slender layers of graphene, a two-dimensional nanomaterial, positioned apart by an insulating crystal made of hexagonal boron nitride. This arrangement enabled them to precisely manage the flow of electrical charges. Furthermore, it facilitated the generation of excitons, which are particles produced by the pairing of an electron with a corres