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Have anyons been experimentally detected (even indirectly, like gravitational waves via binary pulsars)?
In 2005 a group of physicists at Stony Brook University constructed a quasiparticle interferometer, detecting the patterns caused by interference of anyons which were interpreted to suggest that anyons are real, rather than just a mathematical construct.[3] However, these experiments remain controversial and are not fully accepted by the community.
Borek said:This gives a reference to http://arxiv.org/abs/cond-mat/0502406 (Camino, F.; Zhou, Wei; Goldman, V. (2005). "Realization of a Laughlin quasiparticle interferometer: Observation of fractional statistics". Physical Review B 72 (7)).
Anyons are hypothetical particles that are neither fermions nor bosons, but possess properties of both. They have been predicted by theoretical physicists and could potentially exist in certain condensed matter systems.
One proposed method for detecting anyons is through the observation of their fractional statistics, which would manifest as a fractional quantum Hall effect. Another proposed method is through the detection of their topological properties, such as braiding statistics.
Gravitational waves, which are ripples in the fabric of spacetime, could potentially be used as a tool for detecting anyons. This is because anyons are predicted to have a gravitational charge, which would interact with gravitational waves in a distinct way.
No, anyons have not been observed or detected experimentally yet. However, there have been several promising theoretical and experimental studies that suggest their existence.
The discovery of anyons would have significant implications on our understanding of quantum mechanics and the fundamental laws of physics. It would provide further evidence for the existence of exotic particles and could potentially lead to new technologies and applications in fields such as quantum computing and information storage.