DROPLETON

Discover dropletón, quantum droplet 

Physicists in Germany and the USA have first described a type of quasi-particle composed of a bunch of electrons and holes.

A team of researchers from the University of Marburg (Germany ) and JILA (University of Colorado - Boulder NIST) has been found in semiconductor center means a new quasi-particle : the dropleton . The work is published this week in the journal Nature.

Quantum excitations are quasiparticles formed by smaller particles that together act like one predictable behavior. An example is the exciton , integrated by an electron and a hole ( where the electron could be but is not ) cuasipartícula attached by electrostatic forces . "We're talking about five droplets with five holes and electrons ," says one of the researchers

The dropletón is the sum of a small group of excitons , ie , a few photons and condense gaps for a second ( 25 picoseconds, or 25 billionths of a second) as the liquid droplets .

Its properties and appearance of " droplet " ( droplet , ) have inspired scientists to christen the new quasiparticle as dropletón . In Spanish it would be something like " gotitón " . It also has a structure and quantum characteristics different from those of other known .

" The droplets of electrons and holes in semiconductors are known , but usually contain billions of these electrons and holes ," explains Steven Cundiff JILA physicist , one of the authors . " We're talking about five droplets with five holes and electrons ."

To create the new quasi-particles have been used ultrafast laser pulses . With them has generated the hole and electron plasma necessary to produce excitons , of which after the dropletones arise .

Weather relatively "long" life makes these quasiparticles stable enough to facilitate the study of quantum interactions between light and matter. According to the researchers , their detection is of interest in the field of fundamental physics .

"Regarding the practical benefits , no one will create a gizmo quantum dots , but this has indirect benefits to improve our understanding of how electrons interact in various situations, including optoelectronic devices ," said Cundiff .