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What does "Interlayer Hopping" mean?

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Interlayer hopping refers to the movement of particles, such as atoms or electrons, between different layers in a material. This concept is important in understanding how layers interact with each other, particularly in layered structures like bilayers or cubic lattices.

In certain materials, when layers are stacked, the ability of particles to jump from one layer to another can affect their behavior and properties. For example, in systems with attractive forces, interlayer hopping can lead to an increase in critical temperatures, which are the temperatures at which materials show specific properties, like superconductivity or superfluidity.

As particles hop between layers, they can change the arrangement of surrounding particles, leading to complex behaviors. This is especially significant in materials with strong magnetic interactions, where adding or moving a particle can disturb the magnetic order of the entire system.

Understanding interlayer hopping helps scientists study and improve the properties of materials, making it a key area of research in condensed matter physics.

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