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Observation of a quarter of an electron charge at the ν = 5/2 quantum Hall state

Author

Listed:
  • M. Dolev

    (Braun Center for Submicron Research, Weizmann Institute of Science)

  • M. Heiblum

    (Braun Center for Submicron Research, Weizmann Institute of Science)

  • V. Umansky

    (Braun Center for Submicron Research, Weizmann Institute of Science)

  • Ady Stern

    (Braun Center for Submicron Research, Weizmann Institute of Science)

  • D. Mahalu

    (Braun Center for Submicron Research, Weizmann Institute of Science)

Abstract

The fractional quantum Hall effect, where plateaus in the Hall resistance at values of h/ν e2 coexist with zeros in the longitudinal resistance, results from electron correlations in two dimensions under a strong magnetic field. (Here h is Planck’s constant, ν the filling factor and e the electron charge.) Current flows along the sample edges and is carried by charged excitations (quasiparticles) whose charge is a fraction of the electron charge. Although earlier research concentrated on odd denominator fractional values of ν, the observation of the even denominator ν = 5/2 state sparked much interest. This state is conjectured to be characterized by quasiparticles of charge e/4, whose statistics are ‘non-abelian’—in other words, interchanging two quasiparticles may modify the state of the system into a different one, rather than just adding a phase as is the case for fermions or bosons. As such, these quasiparticles may be useful for the construction of a topological quantum computer. Here we report data on shot noise generated by partitioning edge currents in the ν = 5/2 state, consistent with the charge of the quasiparticle being e/4, and inconsistent with other possible values, such as e/2 and e. Although this finding does not prove the non-abelian nature of the ν = 5/2 state, it is the first step towards a full understanding of these new fractional charges.

Suggested Citation

  • M. Dolev & M. Heiblum & V. Umansky & Ady Stern & D. Mahalu, 2008. "Observation of a quarter of an electron charge at the ν = 5/2 quantum Hall state," Nature, Nature, vol. 452(7189), pages 829-834, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:452:y:2008:i:7189:d:10.1038_nature06855
    DOI: 10.1038/nature06855
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    Cited by:

    1. J. Nakamura & S. Liang & G. C. Gardner & M. J. Manfra, 2022. "Impact of bulk-edge coupling on observation of anyonic braiding statistics in quantum Hall interferometers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. June-Young M. Lee & H.-S. Sim, 2022. "Non-Abelian anyon collider," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-6, December.

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