Neutron scattering and thermodynamic evidence for emergent photons and fractionalization in a pyrochlore spin ice

Nature Physics, Published online: 19 June 2025; doi:10.1038/s41567-025-02922-9

Quantum spin-ice phases are predicted to have emergent gauge fields and fractionalization. Neutron scattering and thermodynamic measurements of the quantum spin-ice candidate Ce2Zr2O7 show features consistent with these predictions.