This new matter was theorized approximately fifty year ago by physicist Peter Abbamonte and named by Bert Halperin in the 1960s. Abbamonte is a physics professor at the University of Illinois; while he full heartedly supports this theory, he states that one can never really “prove” anything, just convince.
Excitonium is thought of as a condensate: a phenomenon resulting in superconductors, superfluid, or insulating electronic crystals. Like atoms are formed of electrons, protons, and neutrons, Excitonium consists of excitons. These excitons are formed when electrons move from energy levels leaving a “hole” behind, acting as matter with a positive charge. These holes, combined with the escaped electron and the absence of one in an energy level.
Excitonium is found using momentum-resolved electron energy-loss spectroscopy (M-EELS). This method is used because it is more sensitive to excited electrons and can more precisely measure the momentum of the electrons. While there is no solid proof, these physicists say they have ‘smoking-gun’ proof; they say that the soft plasmon phase is a precursor to excitons. The measure of the soft plasmon was determined by the low-energy bosonic particles, electrons, and their “hole” left behind.
This matter was found by “total serendipity” as Abbamonte says; Excitonium was found completely by coincidence when studying high-temperature superconductors in 2015 at the University of Illinois. While these theories do not extensively prove its existence, it offers explanations that can be trialed by other lab experiments. Many studies have been peer-reviewed on this theory and has led to even more contemplation, questions, and excitement.
Even in this day and age, there are a plethora of scientific mysteries; with this knowledge and experimentation of Excitonium scientists can uncover more traits of this universe and solve other quantum mechanic ambiguities. This discover is currently undermined, but may end up changing the science world.
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