Talk:Fractionalization

Fractionalization was already mentioned in a few other articles (a couple of which had links), so I have created a stub. I think the most common definition is that the quantum numbers of the quasiparticles are fractions of those of the constituents, but I have avoided referring either to quantum numbers or fractions in the first instance. The example of magnetic monopoles in spin ice shows that (1) quantum mechanics is not necessary and (2) there need not be any “fractions” in the mathematical sense. (There are other examples like emergent Majorana fermions and fermionic quasiparticles in spin systems that reinforce this point.) Stevvers (talk) 16:42, 30 November 2011 (UTC)