Emergence of Anyons on the Two-Sphere in Molecular Impurities

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that two linear molecules in superfluid helium exhibit spectral properties equivalent to two anyons on a sphere, advancing the understanding of anyonic emergence in molecular impurity systems.

Contribution

It rigorously shows that in an experimental regime, the spectrum of two molecules in superfluid helium matches that of two anyons on a sphere, using the angulon quasiparticle framework.

Findings

Spectrum of two molecules matches that of two anyons on the sphere

Lowest energy spectrum corresponds to anyonic behavior

Framework developed within the angulon quasiparticle formalism

Abstract

Recently it was shown that anyons on the two-sphere naturally arise from a system of molecular impurities exchanging angular momentum with a many-particle bath (Phys. Rev. Lett. 126, 015301 (2021)). Here we further advance this approach and rigorously demonstrate that in the experimentally realized regime the lowest spectrum of two linear molecules immersed in superfluid helium corresponds to the spectrum of two anyons on the sphere. We develop the formalism within the framework of the recently experimentally observed angulon quasiparticle.