Semi-Dirac fermions

Semi-Dirac fermions: Recently, scientists discovered semi-Dirac fermions, a unique quasiparticle in the topological metal ZrSiS in a groundbreaking study.

• About: It is a type of quasiparticle that exhibits mass when moving in one direction but not in a perpendicular direction.

o Similar to a train—free in one direction but constrained in another when changing tracks.

• Discovery: Recently observed in ZrSiS crystals, a topological semimetal, under low temperatures and strong magnetic fields.
• Mass Behavior: Exhibit directional mass properties—massless horizontally and massive vertically.
• Energy Dispersion: Energy changes from quadratic to linear based on motion direction, distinguishing them from regular fermions.
• Potential Applications: Could enhance electronics, quantum computing, and sensors due to their unique characteristics.
• Research Implications: Opens new avenues for studying quantum phenomena and material science.
• Quasiparticle:

o It is a weakly interacting entity that emerges from the strong interactions between particles in a system, such as in a solid, where it behaves like a particle with a finite lifetime due to its approximate nature.