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Scientists prove existence of new form of matter ‘excitonium’

Published

8 years ago

December 11, 2017

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Scientists are excited at proving the existence of a new form of matter that had been theorised about half a century ago. It is called ‘excitonium’.

Just discovered, its properties are still to be ascertained and scientists do not know what it can do or what to do with it yet. The findings, published in the journal Science, hold great promise for unlocking further quantum mechanical mysteries, researchers said.

Excitonium is a condensate – it exhibits macroscopic quantum phenomena, like a superconductor. It is made up of excitons, particles that are formed in a very strange quantum mechanical pairing, namely that of an escaped electron and the hole it left behind.

The discovery was made by researchers from University of California Berkeley and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the US who studied non-doped crystals of the transition metal dichalcogenide titanium diselenide (1T-TiSe2), said media reports.

When an electron, at the edge of a crowded-with-electrons valence band in a semiconductor, gets excited and jumps over the energy gap to the otherwise empty conduction band, it leaves behind a ‘hole’ in the valence band.

That hole behaves as though it were a particle with positive charge, and it attracts the escaped electron. When the escaped electron with its negative charge, pairs up with the hole, the two form a composite particle, a boson – an exciton.

Exciton particles, then, are made up of an electron that has escaped and the negative space it left behind when it did so. The hole actually acts like a particle, attracting the escaped electron and bonding with it; they orbit each other the same way an electron and a proton would, explained a report in the Newsweek.

The holes particle-like attributes are due to the collective behaviour of the surrounding crowd of electrons. However, that understanding makes the pairing no less strange and wonderful, researchers said.

Until now, scientists have not had the experimental tools to positively distinguish whether what looked like excitonium was not in fact a Peierls phase. Peierls phases and exciton condensation share the same symmetry and similar observables.

Professor at University of Illinois Peter Abbamonte and his team were able to overcome that challenge by using a novel technique they developed called momentum-resolved electron energy-loss spectroscopy (M-EELS). With their new technique, the group was able to measure collective excitations of the low-energy bosonic particles, the paired electrons and holes, regardless of their momentum.

“Ever since the term excitonium was coined in the 1960s by Harvard theoretical physicist Bert Halperin, physicists have sought to demonstrate its existence,” Abbamonte.

“Theorists have debated whether it would be an insulator, a perfect conductor, or a superfluid – with some convincing arguments on all sides,” Abbamonte said.

“Since the 1970s, many experimentalists have published evidence of the existence of excitonium, but their findings were not definitive proof and could equally have been explained by a conventional structural phase transition,” he said.

The discovery could also shed light on the metal-insulator transition in band solids, in which exciton condensation is believed to play a part. Beyond that, possible technological applications of excitonium are purely speculative.

Some, said Abbamonte, think it will be an insulator, meaning it can’t carry any energy or momentum. Others think it will be a superfluid, meaning it can carry both energy and momentum with no dissipation – the exact opposite.

“The most important thing is that it exists,” Abbamonte said. “It’s one of those things that just ought to be there, you know? And it didn’t make sense that it wasn’t,” said Newsweek.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Related Topics:Electron Hole Excitonium Physics

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OnePlus Freedom Sale 2026 brings discounts on 15, 15R, 13, Nord 5 and tablets

OnePlus Freedom Sale 2026 begins Jan 16 with discounts on phones, tablets, and audio products across online and offline stores.

Published

2 days ago

January 13, 2026

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OnePlus has announced its Freedom Sale, offering discounts on smartphones, tablets, and audio products across online and offline platforms. The deals include the recently launched OnePlus 15 series, Nord lineup, Buds audio devices, and other gadgets.

When and where to shop

The OnePlus Freedom Sale starts on Jan. 16 and will run both online and offline. Shoppers can purchase smartphones through OnePlus.in, OnePlus Experience Stores, Amazon, as well as offline retailers including Croma, Reliance Digital, Vijay Sales, and others. Tablets are available on Flipkart during the sale period.

Discounts on OnePlus smartphones

OnePlus 15: Launched at Rs 72,999, buyers can get an instant Rs 4,000 discount, lowering the effective price to Rs 68,999. Additional benefits include six months of no-cost EMI and a bundled OnePlus Nord Buds 3.
OnePlus 13: Originally priced at Rs 69,999, the phone receives an Rs 8,000 price drop, plus a bank discount of Rs 4,000, bringing the price down to Rs 57,999.
OnePlus 15R: Listed at Rs 47,999, buyers can avail Rs 3,000 off until Jan 26. After the date, the effective price is Rs 45,999.
OnePlus 13R: Launched at Rs 42,999, this device gets up to Rs 6,000 price cut and an additional Rs 1,000 bank discount.

Discounts on OnePlus tablets

OnePlus Pad 2: Rs 2,000 instant bank discount reduces the price to Rs 34,999.
OnePlus Pad 3: Eligible for a Rs 3,000 instant discount, making the price Rs 44,999. Purchases until Jan 26 include a free Stylo 2 stylus.
OnePlus Pad Go 2: Rs 1,000 price drop plus Rs 2,000 bank discount, now Rs 23,999.
OnePlus Pad Go: Price reduced to Rs 13,999 after Rs 3,000 cut and Rs 1,000 bank discount.
OnePlus Pad Lite: Available for Rs 11,999 after a Rs 2,000 price drop and Rs 2,000 bank discount.

Audio devices on offer

OnePlus Buds 4: Rs 700 price cut with Rs 300 bank discount, bringing the effective price to Rs 4,999.
OnePlus Buds Pro 3: Now Rs 9,999 after Rs 1,000 price drop and Rs 1,000 bank discount. No-cost EMI options are available for both Buds 4 and Buds Pro 3.

Additional discounts are also applicable to the Nord Buds series — including Nord Buds 3, Nord Buds 3 Pro, and Nord Buds 3R — and neckband devices such as Bullets Wireless Z2 ANC and Bullets Wireless Z3.

Gadgets

Oppo Reno 15 likely to launch in India soon with upgraded camera and performance features

Oppo is preparing to launch the Reno 15 series in India, focusing on camera improvements, performance stability and a refined design. Here’s what to expect from its pricing and features.

Published

1 month ago

December 8, 2025

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Oppo is gearing up to introduce its Reno 15 lineup in India, with the series expected to focus heavily on enhanced imaging, performance stability and creator-friendly tools. The smartphone, which has already been launched in China, is anticipated to reach the Indian market in the coming weeks although the company has not yet shared an official date.

Expected price range in India

Industry estimates suggest the standard Oppo Reno 15 will fall in the upper-mid price bracket. While the Reno 15 Pro was launched in China at CNY 3,699 (roughly Rs 46,000), the Reno 15 base model is expected to be more affordable, likely between Rs 32,000 and Rs 38,000, depending on RAM and storage configurations.

Expected features and specifications

The Reno 15 series is expected to highlight Oppo’s improvements in sustained performance, camera capabilities and thermal management. Globally, the models run on ColorOS 16 and feature advanced cooling, particularly aimed at gaming and continuous live-streaming use.

For India, the upcoming Oppo Reno 15 is likely to offer:

A high-refresh-rate AMOLED display
Triple-camera setup with a primary sensor optimized for better low-light clarity
Secondary wide-angle and portrait cameras
Front camera with autofocus and AI-led enhancements for live streaming
Around 5,000mAh battery with fast wired charging support
AI-driven system optimization for smoother long-term performance

Design-wise, it is expected to follow the Reno 15 Pro’s flat-frame style, offering a slim profile, improved durability and brighter display output. With growing demand for creator-focused smartphones in the country, the Reno 15 is being positioned for users interested in mobile photography, vlogging and gaming.

Gadgets

Samsung Galaxy S25 FE India price leak suggests launch similar to S24 FE

Samsung Galaxy S25 FE India price has surfaced online, hinting at a similar launch price as the S24 FE. The phone brings a 6.7-inch AMOLED display, Exynos 2400 chip, triple rear cameras, and a 4,900mAh battery.

Published

4 months ago

September 11, 2025

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Samsung Galaxy S25 FE, which was unveiled globally on September 4, is yet to receive official pricing for the Indian market. However, a fresh leak indicates that the handset could debut in India at the same price point as its predecessor, the Galaxy S24 FE.

Expected price and availability in India

According to tipster Yogesh Brar, the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE may be priced at ₹59,999 for the base 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant in India. This matches the launch price of last year’s Galaxy S24 FE, which started at ₹59,999 for the same configuration. The higher 8GB RAM + 256GB model of the S24 FE was earlier priced at ₹65,999.

Globally, the Galaxy S25 FE has been introduced at $650 (around ₹58,000) for the base variant and $710 (around ₹63,000) for the 8GB + 256GB version. In India, the smartphone is expected to go on sale in October, similar to last year’s rollout schedule for the S24 FE.

The phone is offered in Icyblue, Jetblack, Navy, and White colour options.

Key specifications

Display: 6.7-inch full-HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz refresh rate, 1,900 nits peak brightness, Vision Booster, Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection.
Processor: Exynos 2400 SoC.
RAM & Storage: 8GB RAM standard, up to 512GB UFS 4.0 storage.
Rear Cameras: 50MP wide-angle + 8MP telephoto + 12MP ultrawide; 8K video recording at 30fps.
Front Camera: 12MP selfie shooter.
Battery: 4,900mAh with 45W wired and 15W wireless charging.
Build: 7.4mm thick, 190g weight, IP68-rated water and dust resistance.
Cooling: 10% larger vapour chamber compared to the Galaxy S24 FE.