Quantum Spin Liquid’s “Spinons” Propagate, Oxford Team Finds

Physicists at Oxford University have, for the first time, directly witnessed the behavior of “spinons”, the fundamental particles within a quantum spin liquid, using a technique called spin witness spectroscopy. Unlike typical entangled particle experiments, a quantum spin liquid features complete entanglement between every spin within the material, a naturally occurring phenomenon found in readily available crystals. The team investigated Herbertsmithite, a mineral considered a leading candidate to host this unusual state of matter, despite previous challenges posed by magnetic impurities. Lead author Professor Séamus…