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Research EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland

Graphene device measures fractional electron charges

EPFL researchers built a bilayer graphene antidot that acts as a sensitive charge meter, detecting quasiparticles with charges of one‑third, two‑thirds, and other fractions of an electron in various quantum Hall states. The device revealed one‑third and two‑thirds charges at state 8/3 and confirmed predictions for states 4/3, 5/3, 7/3, 2/3, and 3/5. This simple, tunable setup offers a practical method to study topological quantum matter.

Published
17 Aug 2026
2 min read 1 source
Intelligence brief
EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland / Research
CH

EPFL researchers built a bilayer graphene antidot that acts as a sensitive charge meter, detecting quasiparticles with charges of one‑third, two‑thirds, and other fractions of an electron in various quantum Hall states. The device revealed one‑third and two‑thirds charges at state 8/3 and confirmed predictions for states 4/3, 5/3, 7/3, 2/3, and 3/5. This simple, tunable setup offers a practical method to study topological quantum matter.

Why it matters

It demonstrates a Swiss‑funded experimental platform that could support future AI‑driven research in quantum technologies.

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EPFL News

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