fractional statistics

Fractional statistics refers to the behavior of certain particles in quantum systems, mainly in two dimensions, that do not follow traditional boson or fermion rules. Instead, they exhibit "anyonic" properties, meaning their wavefunctions acquire fractional phase shifts when particles are exchanged. This intermediate behavior influences how these particles combine and interact, leading to unique quantum phenomena. Fractional statistics are important in understanding complex states like the fractional quantum Hall effect and have potential applications in quantum computing due to their robust, topological nature.