News in Brief Particle Physics

A new quasiparticle lurks in semiconductors

Electrons and holes gang up to act like a single particle dubbed a collexon

large circular semiconductor

HIDING OUT   A new quasiparticle known as a collexon hints at complex interactions among quantum particles in semiconductors, such as this silicon wafer.

MS Mikel/Shutterstock

By Christopher Crockett

- More than 2 years ago

There’s a new clique among quantum particles in a semiconductor. 

Electrons and positively charged holes in the material’s atomic lattice band together to create a tight-knit posse dubbed a collexon, researchers report July 26 in Communications Physics.