rotoron

Rotoron is a term used in speculative physics and science fiction to denote a hypothetical particle or quasiparticle that carries quantized angular momentum and can mediate or induce rotational motion in a quantum system.

The name blends the word rotation with the -ron suffix common to particle names (such as electron and phonon) and is intentionally distinct from the real roton described in superfluid helium.

In theoretical models, rotoron excitations may emerge as collective modes in spintronic lattices, ultracold atomic gases confined to ring or toroidal traps, or rotating superconducting films. They are described as carrying a fixed amount of angular momentum, and can couple to phonons, magnons, or external torques applied via magnetic or optical fields.

Basic properties commonly discussed include a quantized angular momentum quantum number, an energy gap, and a dispersive relation that supports slow or persistent rotational motion. Rotorons are typically treated as bosonic quasiparticles and may be generated by angular-momentum transfer from tailored light beams or by mechanical rotation of the host medium.

Status and use: Rotoron remains a theoretical construct with no experimental confirmation. It is employed in thought experiments and model studies to explore how angular momentum can be stored, transported, and manipulated at the quantum level, and to compare with real quasiparticles such as rotons, magnons, or phonons.

Related concepts include rotons, magnons, and phonons, as well as angular-momentum transfer in spintronics.