Most things below the atomic level occur in quantized form, meaning variables that hop between discrete states. For example, energy radiated by electrons fallin

Most things below the atomic level occur in quantized form, meaning variables that hop between discrete states. For example, energy radiated by electrons falling into a lower orbit is exactly equal to the difference in energy between the two orbits. Or take sub-atomic particles that have properties like spin, this also occurs in discrete steps. What this means in the context of these new magnets though I'm not sure. I seem to recall a paper where fractionalized spin states where hypothesized but I can't find it right now.