Princeton University Donald R. Hamilton Colloquium Series

Abstract: Fractionalization of the electron charge is one of the most striking phenomena arising from strong electron-electron interactions. A celebrated example is the emergence of anyons with fractionally charged excitations in fractional quantum Hall effect (FQH) states. Recently, fractional quantum anomalous Hall effect (FQAH), a lattice analog of the FQH realized at zero magnetic field, has been demonstrated. FQAH provides a unique platform to investigate anyons, yet their detection remains a challenge. In this talk, I will first present transport measurements that establish FQAH in twisted MoTe2 bilayer. I will then show how ~1 eV photons can be used to probe fractional excitations that are three orders of magnitude lower in energy. The results include observation of an abundant Jain sequence of fractional states and a new type of quasi-particle complex, anyon-trions. Observation of the FQAH and associated phenomena pave the way for exploring charge fractionalization and anyonic physics at zero magnetic field.