No Arabic abstract
In a recent paper, Teo and Kane proposed a 3D model in which the defects support Majorana fermion zero modes. They argued that exchanging and twisting these defects would implement a set R of unitary transformations on the zero mode Hilbert space which is a ghostly recollection of the action of the braid group on Ising anyons in 2D. In this paper, we find the group T_{2n} which governs the statistics of these defects by analyzing the topology of the space K_{2n} of configurations of 2n defects in a slowly spatially-varying gapped free fermion Hamiltonian: T_{2n}equiv {pi_1}(K_{2n})$. We find that the group T_{2n}= Z times T^r_{2n}, where the ribbon permutation group T^r_{2n} is a mild enhancement of the permutation group S_{2n}: T^r_{2n} equiv Z_2 times E((Z_2)^{2n}rtimes S_{2n}). Here, E((Z_2)^{2n}rtimes S_{2n}) is the even part of (Z_2)^{2n} rtimes S_{2n}, namely those elements for which the total parity of the element in (Z_2)^{2n} added to the parity of the permutation is even. Surprisingly, R is only a projective representation of T_{2n}, a possibility proposed by Wilczek. Thus, Teo and Kanes defects realize `Projective Ribbon Permutation Statistics, which we show to be consistent with locality. We extend this phenomenon to other dimensions, co-dimensions, and symmetry classes. Since it is an essential input for our calculation, we review the topological classification of gapped free fermion systems and its relation to Bott periodicity.
Topological phases of matter have revolutionized the fundamental understanding of band theory and hold great promise for next-generation technologies such as low-power electronics or quantum computers. Single-gap topologies have been extensively explored, and a large number of materials have been theoretically proposed and experimentally observed. These ideas have recently been extended to multi-gap topologies, characterized by invariants that arise by the momentum space braiding of band nodes that carry non-Abelian charges. However, the constraints placed by the Fermi-Dirac distribution to electronic systems have so far prevented the experimental observation of multi-gap topologies in real materials. Here, we show that multi-gap topologies and the accompanying phase transitions driven by braiding processes can be readily observed in the bosonic phonon spectra of known monolayer silicates. The associated braiding process can be controlled by means of an electric field and epitaxial strain, and involves, for the first time, more than three bands. Finally, we propose that these conversion processes can be tracked by following the evolution of the Raman spectrum, providing a clear signature for the experimental verification of multi-gap topologies.
We study the gauge invariant fermions in the fermion coset representation of $SU(N)_k$ Wess-Zumino-Witten models which create, by construction, the physical excitations (quasiparticles) of the theory. We show that they provide an explicit holomorphic factorization of $SU(N)_k$ Wess-Zumino-Witten primaries and satisfy non-Abelian braiding relations.
In this paper, we report on the study of Abelian and non-Abelian statistics through Fabry-Perot interferometry of fractional quantum Hall (FQH) systems. Our detection of phase slips in quantum interference experiments demonstrates a powerful, new way of detecting braiding of anyons. We confirm the Abelian anyonic braiding statistics in the $ u = 7/3$ FQH state through detection of the predicted statistical phase angle of $2pi/3$, consistent with a change of the anyonic particle number by one. The $ u = 5/2$ FQH state is theoretically believed to harbor non-Abelian anyons which are Majorana, meaning that each pair of quasiparticles contain a neutral fermion orbital which can be occupied or unoccupied and hence can act as a qubit. In this case our observed statistical phase slips agree with a theoretical model where the Majoranas are strongly coupled to each other, and strongly coupled to the edge modes of the interferometer. In particular, an observed phase slip of approximately $pi$ is interpreted as a sudden flip of a qubit, or entry of a neutral fermion into the interferometer. Our results provide compelling support for the existence of non-Abelian anyons.
The quantum Hall states at filling factors $ u=5/2$ and $7/2$ are expected to have Abelian charge $e/2$ quasiparticles and non-Abelian charge $e/4$ quasiparticles. For the first time we report experimental evidence for the non-Abelian nature of excitations at $ u=7/2$ and examine the fermion parity, a topological quantum number of an even number of non-Abelian quasiparticles, by measuring resistance oscillations as a function of magnetic field in Fabry-Perot interferometers using new high purity heterostructures. The phase of observed $e/4$ oscillations is reproducible and stable over long times (hours) near $ u=5/2$ and $7/2$, indicating stability of the fermion parity. When phase fluctuations are observed, they are predominantly $pi$ phase flips, consistent with fermion parity change. We also examine lower-frequency oscillations attributable to Abelian interference processes in both states. Taken together, these results constitute new evidence for the non-Abelian nature of $e/4$ quasiparticles; the observed life-time of their combined fermion parity further strengthens the case for their utility for topological quantum computation.
The non-Abelian braiding of Majorana fermions is one of the most promising operations providing a key building block for the realization of topological quantum computation. Recently, the chiral Majorana fermions were observed in a hybrid junction btween a quantum anomalous Hall insulator and an s-wave superconductor. Here we show that if a quantum dot or Majorana zero mode couples to the chiral Majorana fermions, the resulting resonant exchange of chiral Majorana fermions can lead to the non-Abelian braiding. Remarkably, any operation in the braid group can be achieved by this scheme. We further propose electrical transport experiments to observe the braiding of four chiral Majorana fermions and demonstrate the non-Abelian braiding statistics in four-terminal devices of the hybrid junctions. Both a conductance peak due to the braiding and the braiding-order dependent conductance are predicted. These findings pave a way to perform any braiding operation of chiral Majorana fermions by electrically controllable quantum dots.