Triboelectriooni

Triboelectriooni is a hypothetical quasi-particle proposed in some triboelectric theories to mediate interactions between friction-generated charge domains and electromagnetic fields. The term combines triboelectric, relating to charge separation by friction, with the -oni suffix used for particles. It is not part of established physics and remains speculative.

Originating in attempts to explain anomalies observed in nanoscale contact electrification, triboelectriooni features in a range of models that posit a mediator arising from the coupling between mechanical friction, surface charges, and quantum-field effects. Different proposals vary in predicted mass, charge, and interaction strength.

Proposed properties are highly model-dependent. Some pictures treat it as a light boson capable of carrying electric charge or mediating charge transfer, while others describe a neutral excitation that interacts with electromagnetic fields and lattice vibrations. Lifetimes, dispersion relations, and coupling constants are not agreed upon.

Status and evidence: there is no direct experimental evidence for triboelectriooni. Tribology experiments and surface spectroscopy have not yielded reproducible signals requiring such a particle, and many researchers view the concept as needing more robust theoretical justification.

Implications and critique: if proven, triboelectriooni could affect energy harvesting, signal transduction in nanoelectromechanical systems, or friction-related phenomena. Critics note that introducing a new particle risks overfitting empirical data and that a clear experimental signature is needed before acceptance. Proposed tests include precision scattering measurements and targeted studies of frictional charge transfer.