How to braid mobile with immobile non-Abelian anyons in a topological superconductor

POSTER

Abstract

Majorana zero-modes in a superconductor are midgap states localized in the core of a vortex or bound to the end of a nanowire. They are anyons with non-Abelian braiding statistics, but when they are immobile one cannot demonstrate this by exchanging them in real space and indirect methods are needed. As a real-space alternative, we propose to use the chiral motion along the boundary of the superconductor to braid a mobile vortex in the edge channel with an immobile vortex in the bulk. The measurement scheme is fully electrical and deterministic: edge vortices ($\pi$-phase domain walls) are created on demand by a voltage pulse at a Josephson junction and the braiding with a Majorana zero-mode in the bulk is detected by the charge produced upon their fusion at a second Josephson junction.

*the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO/OCW), the European Research Council (ERC)

Presenters

  • Anton Akhmerov

    • Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology

Authors

  • Anton Akhmerov

    • Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology
  • Carlo W J Beenakker

    • Lorentz institute for theoretical physics, Leiden University
  • Paul S Baireuther

    • Lorentz institute for theoretical physics, Leiden University
  • Inanc Adagideli

    • Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University
    • Sabanci University
  • Yaroslav Herasymenko

    • Lorentz institute for theoretical physics, Leiden University