Dynamic response functions, helical gaps, and fractional charges in quantum wires

ORAL

Abstract

We show how experimentally accessible dynamic response functions can discriminate between helical gaps due to magnetic field, and helical gaps driven by electron-electron interactions (``umklapp gaps’’). The latter are interesting since they feature gapped quasiparticles of fractional charge $e/2$, and - when coupled to a standard superconductor - an 8$\pi$-Josephson effect and topological zero energy states bound to interfaces.

*National Research Fund, Luxembourg (ATTRACT 7556175), Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (GRK 1621 and SFB 1143), Swiss National Science Foundation

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Authors

  • Tobias Meng

    • Institut fuer Theoretische Physik, Technische Universitaet Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany

  • Christopher Pedder

    • Physics and Materials Science Research Unit, University of Luxembourg, L-1511 Luxembourg
    • University of Luxembourg

  • Rakesh P. Tiwari

    • Department of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland

  • Thomas Schmidt

    • Physics and Materials Science Research Unit, University of Luxembourg, L-1511 Luxembourg
    • University of Luxembourg