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  • Open Access

Anyon-Trions in Atomically Thin Semiconductor Heterostructures

Nader Mostaan1,2,*, Nathan Goldman3,4,5, Ataç İmamoğlu6, and Fabian Grusdt1,2

  • *Contact author: nader.mostaan@physik.uni-muenchen.de
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PRX Quantum 7, 010325 – Published 5 February, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/hxmb-pn4z

Abstract

Topologically ordered quantum systems give rise to anyonic quasiparticles, whose controlled braiding operations form the foundation of topological quantum computation. Traditionally, studies of anyons have relied on edge-state interferometry, leaving the direct detection and manipulation of anyons in the bulk a major experimental challenge. Here, we propose and theoretically investigate a pathway toward this goal by demonstrating that a long-lived, optically generated interlayer exciton can bind to a quasihole in a fractional quantum Hall state, forming a novel composite excitation: the anyon-trion. Using exact diagonalization techniques, we reveal that anyon-trions exhibit millielectronvolt-scale binding energies and a linear dependence on the fractional charge of the quasihole. This scaling offers a powerful means to optically extract the quasihole’s fractional charge through measurable shifts in exciton resonances. We outline a feasible experimental implementation via photoluminescence spectroscopy in a quantum twisting microscope setup, providing a promising route for the direct optical observation of anyon-trions within the bulk.

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Popular Summary

Anyons are exotic quantum particles that emerge in certain two-dimensional systems and exhibit unusual behavior when moved around each other—a process known as braiding. This behavior is not just a theoretical curiosity: it lies at the heart of proposals for topological quantum computers, which could store and process information in a way that is naturally protected from noise. To make this vision a reality, researchers must find ways to detect and control anyons directly in the bulk of materials, rather than just at their edges.

Our work proposes a new optical method to detect and study anyons inside a material. We show that excitons—bound pairs of electrons and holes in atomically thin materials—can act as mobile probes for anyons. When placed near a special quantum Hall state, the excitons can bind to quasiholes, forming new composite particles we call anyon-trions. These bound states produce a distinctive signal in photoluminescence spectra, offering a direct optical signature of bulk anyons. We also propose a quantum optical version of a quantum twist microscope that uses a tightly focused exciton to detect anyons with nanometer resolution. This makes it possible to map out the positions and properties of individual anyons with high precision.

To support our predictions, we combine advanced tools from both condensed matter physics and quantum optics, including exact numerical simulations and polaron theory. This interdisciplinary approach not only uncovers a new method for probing anyons but also opens up a new theoretical framework for describing quantum impurities in topological systems.

Overall, our results bridge the gap between optical techniques and topological phases of matter, offering a promising route toward optical control of anyons—a crucial step for realizing future topological quantum technologies.

Article Text

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PRX Quantum 7, 010325– Published 5 February, 2026
  • Received 18 July 2025
  • Revised 19 November 2025
  • Accepted 15 December 2025
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