New research into the 2-dimensional “flatland” where the rules of physics are tipped on their heads has led to the discovery of unexpected, and potentially useful, phenomena.
In rare cases, particles like electrons can have a fraction of their usual electrical charge – an effect known as the fractional quantum Hall effect.
The new study, published in Communications Physics, can “push the boundaries” of studies into the fractional quantum Hall effect according to co-author Ramesh G. Mani.
“Think of the traditional study of fractional quantum Hall effects as exploring the ground floor of a building,” explains Mani, a physics professor at the Georgia State University (GSU) in the US. “Our study is about looking for and discovering the upper floors – those exciting, unexplored levels – and finding out what they look like. Surprisingly, with a simple technique, we were able to access these upper floors and uncover complex signatures of the excited states.”
Mani likens the behaviour of particles in flatland to having “multiple personalities and can exhibit a context-dependent personality on demand”.
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