Anyons

Journal Article · Wed May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1991 · Scientific American; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/scientificamerican0591-58· OSTI ID:5176811

Wilczek, F

At first anyons were mostly thought of, by those few physicists who thought about them at all, as mathematical curiosities. Further investigation revealed the presence of anyons in theoretical models that quite closely resembled ones used to describe actual systems and materials. Detailed studies also demonstrated the depth and inner consistency of the concept of anyons. Anyons are the basic excitations in the spectacular states of matter known as fraction quantized Hall states. Appreciation of this fact has led to a more profound understanding of several aspects of the quantized Hall effect itself and has stimulated considerable excitement and activity in the physics community. Anyons provide a new paradigm for the behavior of matter in quantum mechanics, and if there is any justice in the world, many other realizations await discovery. It is particularly intriguing that there is an extremely natural and powerful mechanism of superconductivity connected with anyons. A theory of high-temperature superconductivity has been constructed that exploits this feature of anyons. It may well apply to the copper oxide superconductors of recent fame. In this article the author shall review the logic that leads one to the concept of anyons, the situations in which they are at present known to occur and the mechanism of superconductivity they suggest.

• OSTI ID: 5176811
• Journal Information: Scientific American; (United States), Journal Name: Scientific American; (United States) Vol. 264:5; ISSN SCAMA; ISSN 0036-8733
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

656100* -- Condensed Matter Physics-- Superconductivity
657002 -- Theoretical & Mathematical Physics-- Classical & Quantum Mechanics
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
BOSONS
CERAMICS
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FERMIONS
HALL EFFECT
HELIUM 3
HELIUM 4
HELIUM ISOTOPES
HIGH-TC SUPERCONDUCTORS
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MECHANICS
NUCLEI
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
QUANTUM MECHANICS
QUASI PARTICLES
STABLE ISOTOPES
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY
SUPERCONDUCTORS
SUPERFLUIDITY
TYPE-II SUPERCONDUCTORS