ORNL neutron 'splashes' reveal signature of exotic particles
DOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory
This Kitaev quantum spin liquid supports magnetic excitations equivalent to Majorana fermions–particles that are unusual in that they are their own antiparticles. Arnab Banerjee, the study’s lead author and a post-doctoral researcher at ORNL, explained that one way to observe spin liquid physics in such a material is to splash or excite the liquid using neutron scattering. The paper is published as Proximate Kitaev quantum spin liquid behaviour in a honeycomb magnet. The Spallation Neutron Source and the High Flux Isotope Reactor are DOE Office of Science User Facilities. Image credit: Genevieve Martin/ORNL NOTE TO EDITORS: You may read other press releases from Oak Ridge National Laboratory or learn more about the lab at http://www.ornl.gov/news.
Tags:
- Quantum spin liquid
- Spin (physics)
- Neutron
- Atom
- Majorana fermion
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory
- Fermion
- Magnetism
- Quantum mechanics
- Physical sciences
- Science
- Theoretical physics
- Physical chemistry
- Atomic physics
- Chemistry
- Condensed matter
- Condensed matter physics
- Nature
- Particle physics
- Applied and interdisciplinary physics
- Physics