Fractionalization

In quantum mechanics, fractionalization is the phenomenon whereby the quasiparticles of a system cannot be constructed as combinations of its elementary constituents. One of the earliest and most prominent examples is the fractional quantum Hall effect, where the constituent particles are electrons but the quasiparticles carry fractions of the electron charge.[1][2] Fractionalization can be understood as deconfinement of quasiparticles that together are viewed as comprising the elementary constituents. In the case of spin–charge separation, for example, the electron can be viewed as a bound state of a 'spinon' and a 'holon (or chargon)', which under certain conditions can become free to move separately.

  1. ^ "Fractional charge carriers discovered". Physics World. 24 October 1997. Archived from the original on 2010-01-17. Retrieved 2010-02-08.
  2. ^ Martin J, Ilani S, Verdene B, Smet J, Umansky V, Mahalu D, Schuh D, Abstreiter G, Yacoby A (2004). "Localization of fractionally charged quasi-particles". Science. 305 (5686): 980–3. Bibcode:2004Sci...305..980M. doi:10.1126/science.1099950. PMID 15310895.