Experimental observation of a new class of materials: Excitonic insulators

A University of Wollongong / Monash University collaboration has found evidence of a new phase of matter predicted in the 1960s: the excitonic insulator.The unique signatures of an excitonic insulating phase were observed in antimony Sb(110) nanoflakes.The findings provide a novel strategy to search for more excitonic insulators which is potentially capable of carrying exciton superfluids, and further studies will be required to fully understand the rich physics of this new phase of matter.

伍伦贡大学（University of Wollongong）与莫纳什大学（Monash University）的合作团队，发现了1960年代便已被理论预言的新型物质相——激子绝缘体（excitonic insulator）的实验证据。研究团队在锑（Sb）(110)纳米薄片中观测到了激子绝缘相的独特特征。该研究成果为搜寻更多可承载激子超流体（exciton superfluids）的激子绝缘体提供了全新策略；而要完全阐明这一新型物质相所蕴含的丰富物理内涵，仍需开展进一步的深入研究。