Majorana Fermions Research Articles

Operator size growth in Lindbladian SYK

We investigate the growth of operator size in the Lindbladian Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev model with q-body interaction terms and linear jump terms at finite dissipation strength. We compute the operator size as well as its distribution numerically at finite q and analytically at large q. With dissipative (productive) jump terms, the size converges to a value smaller (larger) than half the number of Majorana fermions. At weak dissipation, the evolution of operator size displays a quadratic-exponential-plateau behavior. The plateau value is determined by the ratios between the coupling of the interaction and the linear jump term in the large q limit. The operator size distribution remains localized in the finite size region even at late times, contrasting with the unitary case. Moreover, we also derived the time-independent orthogonal basis for operator expansion which exhibits the operator size concentration at finite dissipation. Finally, we observe that the uncertainty relation for operator size growth is saturated at large q, leading to classical dynamics of the operator size growth with dissipation.

Dual Dirac Nodal Line in Nearly Freestanding Electronic Structure of β-Sn Monolayer.

Two-dimensional topological insulators (2D TIs) have distinct electronic properties that make them attractive for various applications, especially in spintronics. The conductive edge states in 2D TIs are protected from disorder and perturbations and are spin-polarized, which restrict current flow to a single spin orientation. In contrast, topological nodal line semimetals (TNLSM) are distinct from TIs because of the presence of a 1D ring of degeneracy formed from two bands that cross each other along a line in the Brillouin zone. These nodal lines are protected by topology and can be destroyed only by breaking certain symmetry conditions, making them highly resilient to disorder and defects. However, 2D TNLSMs do not possess protected boundary modes, which makes their investigation challenging. There have been several theoretical predictions of 2D TNLSMs, however, experimental realizations are rare. β-Sn, a metallic allotrope of tin with a superconducting temperature of 3.72 K, may be a candidate for a topological superconductor that can host Majorana Fermions for quantum computing. In this work, single layers of α-Sn and β-Sn on a Cu(111) substrate are successfully prepared and studied using scanning tunneling microscopy, angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, and density functional theory calculations. The lattice and electronic structure undergo a topological transition from 2D topological insulator α-Sn to 2D TNLSM β-Sn, with two types of nodal lines coexisting in monolayer β-Sn. Such a realization of two types of nodal lines in one 2D material has not been reported to date. Moreover, we also observed an unexpected phenomenon of freestanding-like electronic structures of β-Sn/Cu(111), highlighting the potential of ultrathin β-Sn films as a platform for exploring the electronic properties of 2D TNLSM and topological superconductors, such as few-layer superconducting β-Sn in lateral contact with topological nodal line single-layer β-Sn.

Lepton and baryon numbers as local gauge symmetries

A simple theory where the total lepton number is a local gauge symmetry is proposed. In this context, the gauge anomalies are canceled with the minimal number of extra fermionic fields and one predicts that the neutrinos are Majorana fermions. The properties of the neutrino sector are discussed, showing that this theory predicts a 3+2 light neutrino sector. We show that using the same fermionic fields one can gauge the baryon number and define a simple theory where the lepton and baryon numbers can be spontaneously broken at the low scale in agreement with experiments. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

The Implications of Majorana Fermions for High-Energy and Condensed Matter Physics

The Implications of Majorana Fermions for High-Energy and Condensed Matter Physics

Lattice Hamiltonian for adjoint QCD2

We introduce a Hamiltonian lattice model for the (1 + 1)-dimensional SU(Nc) gauge theory coupled to one adjoint Majorana fermion of mass m. The discretization of the continuum theory uses staggered Majorana fermions. We analyze the symmetries of the lattice model and find lattice analogs of the anomalies of the corresponding continuum theory. An important role is played by the lattice translation by one lattice site, which in the continuum limit involves a discrete axial transformation. On a lattice with periodic boundary conditions, the Hilbert space breaks up into sectors labeled by the Nc-ality p = 0, … Nc − 1. Our symmetry analysis implies various exact degeneracies in the spectrum of the lattice model. In particular, it shows that, for m = 0 and even Nc, the sectors p and p′ are degenerate if |p − p′| = Nc/2. In the Nc = 2 case, we explicitly construct the action of the Hamiltonian on a basis of gauge-invariant states, and we perform both a strong coupling expansion and exact diagonalization for lattices of up to 12 lattice sites. Upon extrapolation of these results, we find good agreement with the spectrum computed previously using discretized light-cone quantization. One of our new results is the first numerical calculation of the fermion bilinear condensate.

Non-commutative probability insights into the double-scaling limit SYK model with constant perturbations: moments, cumulants and q-independence

Extending the results of Wu (2022 J. Phys. A 55 415207), we study the double-scaling limit Sachdev–Ye–Kitaev model with an additional diagonal matrix with a fixed number c of nonzero constant entries θ. This constant diagonal term can be rewritten in terms of Majorana fermion products. Its specific formula depends on the value of c. We find exact expressions for the moments of this model. More importantly, by proposing a moment-cumulant relation, we reinterpret the effect of introducing a constant term in the context of non-commutative probability theory. This gives rise to a q~ dependent mixture of independences within the moment formula. The parameter q~ , derived from the q-Ornstein–Uhlenbeck (q-OU) process, controls this transformation. It interpolates between classical independence ( q~=1 ) and Boolean independence ( q~=0 ). The underlying combinatorial structures of this model provide the non-commutative probability connections. Additionally, we explore the potential relation between these connections and their gravitational path integral counterparts.

Solar neutrinos and leptonic spin forces

We quantify the effects of light spin-zero particles with pseudoscalar couplings to leptons and scalar couplings to nucleons on the evolution of solar neutrinos. In this scenario the matter potential sourced by the nucleons in the Sun’s matter gives rise to spin precession of the relativistic neutrino ensemble. As such the effects in the solar observables are different if neutrinos are Dirac or Majorana particles. For Dirac neutrinos the spin-flavour precession results into left-handed neutrino to right-handed neutrino (i.e., active-sterile) oscillations, while for Majorana neutrinos it results into left-handed neutrino to right-handed antineutrino (i.e., active-active) oscillations. In both cases this leads to distortions in the solar neutrino spectrum which we use to derive constraints on the allowed values of the mediator mass and couplings via a global analysis of the solar neutrino data. In addition for Majorana neutrinos spin-flavour precession results into a potentially observable flux of solar electron antineutrinos at the Earth which we quantify and constrain with the existing bounds from Borexino and KamLAND.

Quantum computation in fermionic thermal field theories

Thermal properties of quantum fields at finite temperature are crucial to understanding strongly interacting matter and recent development in quantum computing has provided an alternative and promising avenue of study. In this work, we study thermal field theories involving only fermions using quantum algorithms. We first delve into the presentations of fermion fields via qubits on digital quantum computers alongside the quantum algorithms such as quantum imaginary time evolutions employed to evaluate thermal properties of generic quantum field theories. Specifically, we show numerical results such as the thermal distribution and the energy density of thermal field theories for Majorana fermions in 1+1 dimensions using quantum simulators. In addition to free field theory, we also study the effects of interactions resulting from coupling with a spatially homogeneous Majorana field. In both cases, we show analytically that thermal properties of the system can be described using phase-space distributions, and the quantum simulation results agree with analytical and semiclassical expectations. Our work is an important step to understand thermal fixed points, preparing for quantum simulation of thermalization in real time.

Quantized polarization and Majorana fermions beyond tenfold classification

Exploration of topology is central in condensed matter physics and applications to fault-tolerant quantum information. The bulk-boundary correspondence and tenfold classification determine the topological state compared to a vacuum. Contrary to this belief, we demonstrate that topological zero-energy domain-wall states can emerge for all forbidden 1D classes of the tenfold classification table. The guiding principle is that the difference in the topological quantities of two trivial domains can be quantized, and hence, a topologically protected state can emerge at the domain wall. Such nontrivial domain-wall states are demonstrated using generalized Su-Schrieffeer-Heeger and generalized Kitaev models, which manifest quantized polarization and Majorana fermions, respectively. The quantized Berry phase difference between the domains protects the non-trivial nature of the domain-wall states, extending the bulk-boundary correspondence, also confirmed by the tight-binding and Jackiw-Rebbi methods. Furthermore, we show that the seemingly trivial electronic and superconducting models can be transformed into their topological counterparts in the framework of the topological Fermi-liquid theory. Finally, we propose potential systems where our results may be realized, spanning from electronic and superconducting to optical systems.

Topological Kondo effect with spinful Majorana fermions

Motivated by the importance of studying topological superconductors beyond the mean-field approximation, we here investigate mesoscopic islands of time-reversal-invariant topological superconductors. We characterize the spectrum in the presence of strong order-parameter fluctuations in the presence of an arbitrary number of Kramers pairs of Majorana edge states and study the effect of coupling the Coulomb blockaded island to external leads. In the case of an odd fermionic parity on the island, we derive an unconventional Kondo Hamiltonian in which metallic leads couple to both topological Majorana degrees of freedom (which keep track of the parity in different leads) and the overall spin 12 in the island. For the simplest case of a single wire (two pairs of Majorana edge states), we demonstrate that anisotropies are irrelevant in the weak coupling renormalization group flow. This permits us to solve the Kondo problem in the vicinity of a Toulouse-type point using Abelian bosonization. We demonstrate a residual ground-state entropy of ln(2), which is protected by spin-rotation symmetry, but reduced to ln(2) (as in the spinless topological Kondo effect) by symmetry-breaking perturbations. In the symmetric case, we further demonstrate the simultaneous presence of both Fermi-liquid and non-Fermi-liquid-like thermodynamics (depending on the observable) and derive charge and spin transport signatures of the Coulomb blockaded island. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Electromagnetic Response of Spinful Majorana Fermions

Abstract A remarkable feature of topological superconductors is the emergence of Majorana fermions in electron systems. Whereas the emergent Majorana fermions share the self-antiparticle property with Majorana fermions in particle physics, they may have essentially different electromagnetic properties. In this paper, we discuss the electromagnetic response of spinful Majorana fermions in topological superconductors. We present a general theory of the electromagnetic response of spinful Majorana fermions in topological superconductors and clarify how the pairing symmetry is encoded in the electromagnetic response. As an application, we predict the sublattice-dependent dipole (Ising)-type magnetic response of corner Majorana fermions in iron-based superconductors.

Systematic construction of topological-nontopological hybrid universal quantum gates based on many-body Majorana fermion interactions

Systematic construction of topological-nontopological hybrid universal quantum gates based on many-body Majorana fermion interactions

Investigating two-dimensional adjoint QCD on the lattice

We present our investigations of SU(N) adjoint QCD in two dimensions with one Majorana fermion on the lattice. We determine the relevant parameter range for the simulations with Wilson fermions and present results for Polyakov loop, chiral condensate, and string tension. In the theory with massive fermions, all observables we checked show qualitative agreement between numerical lattice data and theory, while the massless limit is more subtle since chiral and non-invertible symmetry of the continuum theory are explicitly broken by lattice regularization. In thermal compactification, we observe N perturbative vacua for the holonomy potential at high-T with instanton events connecting them, and a unique vacuum at low-T. At finite-N, this is a cross-over and it turns to a phase transition at large-N thermodynamic limit. In circle compactification with periodic boundary conditions, we observe a unique center-symmetric minimum at any radius. In continuum, the instantons in the thermal case carry zero modes (for even N) and indeed, in the lattice simulations, we observe that chiral condensate is dominated by instanton centers, where zero modes are localized. We present lattice results on the issue of confinement vs. screening in the theory and comment on the roles of chiral symmetry and non-invertible symmetry.

Majorana fermions in Kitaev chains side-coupled to normal metals

Majorana fermions, exotic particles with potential applications in quantum computing, have garnered significant interest in condensed matter physics. The Kitaev model serves as a fundamental framework for investigating the emergence of Majorana fermions in one-dimensional systems. We explore the intriguing question of whether Majorana fermions can arise in a normal metal (NM) side-coupled to a Kitaev chain (KC) in the topologically trivial phase. Our findings reveal affirmative evidence, further demonstrating that the KC, when in the topological phase, can induce additional Majorana fermions in the neighboring NM region. Through extensive parameter analysis, we uncover the potential for zero, one, or two pairs of Majorana fermions in a KC side-coupled to an NM. Additionally, we investigate the impact of magnetic flux on the system and calculate the winding number -a topological invariant used to characterize topological phases.

Sequencing one-dimensional Majorana materials for topological quantum computing

Majorana fermions are a fascinating class of particles with unique and intriguing properties: they are their own antiparticles, as first theorized by the Italian physicist Ettore Majorana in 1937. In recent decades, research in condensed matter physics shows theoretically that in certain exotic states of matter, such as topological superconductors, pairs of Majorana fermions can emerge as bound states at defects or interfaces, known as Majorana Zero Modes (MZMs). They behave like non-local anyons and could be used as decoherence-protected qubits. After the seminal work of Kitaev (2001), one-dimensional artificial setups have been developed in line with the concept of the Kitaev chain to implement MZMs. As no definite proof has yet been widely accepted by the community, improvements in the architectures and setups have been realized, and different platforms have been devised, which could be kinds of ‘DNA’ in this rapidly evolving vivid ecosystem. Here, we sequence these ‘DNAs’ and draw perspectives for topological quantum computation.

Long-distance nuclear matrix elements for neutrinoless double-beta decay from lattice QCD

Neutrinoless double-beta (0νββ) decay is a heretofore unobserved process which, if observed, would imply that neutrinos are Majorana particles. Interpretations of the stringent experimental constraints on 0νββ-decay half-lives require calculations of nuclear matrix elements. This work presents the first lattice quantum chromodynamics (LQCD) calculation of the matrix element for 0νββ decay in a multinucleon system, specifically the nn→ppee transition, mediated by a light left-handed Majorana neutrino propagating over nuclear-scale distances. This calculation is performed with quark masses corresponding to a pion mass of mπ=806 MeV at a single lattice spacing and volume. The statistically cleaner Σ−→Σ+ee transition is also computed in order to investigate various systematic uncertainties. The prospects for matching the results of LQCD calculations onto a nuclear effective field theory to determine a leading-order low-energy constant relevant for 0νββ decay with a light Majorana neutrino are investigated. This work, therefore, sets the stage for future calculations at physical values of the quark masses that, combined with effective field theory and nuclear many-body studies, will provide controlled theoretical inputs to experimental searches of 0νββ decay. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Wegner's Ising gauge spins versus Kitaev's Majorana partons: Mapping and application to anisotropic confinement in spin-orbital liquids

Emergent gauge theories take a prominent role in the description of quantum matter, supporting deconfined phases with topological order and fractionalized excitations. A common construction of \mathbb{Z}_2ℤ2 lattice gauge theories, first introduced by Wegner, involves Ising gauge spins placed on links and subject to a discrete \mathbb{Z}_2ℤ2 Gauss law constraint. As shown by Kitaev, \mathbb{Z}_2ℤ2 lattice gauge theories also emerge in the exact solution of certain spin systems with bond-dependent interactions. In this context, the \mathbb{Z}_2ℤ2 gauge field is constructed from Majorana fermions, with gauge constraints given by the parity of Majorana fermions on each site. In this work, we provide an explicit Jordan-Wigner transformation that maps between these two formulations on the square lattice, where the Kitaev-type gauge theory emerges as the exact solution of a spin-orbital (Kugel-Khomskii) Hamiltonian. We then apply our mapping to study local perturbations to the spin-orbital Hamiltonian, which correspond to anisotropic interactions between electric-field variables in the \mathbb{Z}_2ℤ2 gauge theory. These are shown to induce anisotropic confinement that is characterized by emergence of weakly-coupled one-dimensional spin chains. We study the nature of these phases and corresponding confinement transitions in both absence and presence of itinerant fermionic matter degrees of freedom. Finally, we discuss how our mapping can be applied to the Kitaev spin-1/2 model on the honeycomb lattice.

CPT, Majorana fermions, and particle physics beyond the Standard Model

Abstract After reviewing charge conjugation and the CPT theorem, we define Majorana fermions and clarify the relationship of Majorana, Weyl, and Dirac fields. Appearance of Majorana fermions in various scenarios of physics beyond the Standard Model is discussed, including neutrino masses, baryon asymmetry of the universe, grand unified theories, and supersymmetry.

Majorana Fermions as Andreev Bound States in Superfluid $$^3$$He-B

Majorana Fermions as Andreev Bound States in Superfluid $$^3$$He-B

Majorana fermions and quantum information with fractional topology and disorder

The quest to identify and observe Majorana fermions in physics and condensed-matter systems remains an important challenge. Here, we introduce a qubit (spin-1/2) from the occurrence of two delocalized zero-energy Majorana fermions in a model of two spins-1/2 on the Bloch sphere within the fractional one-half topological state. We address specific protocols in time with circularly polarized light and the protection of this delocalized spin-1/2 state related to quantum information protocols. We also show how disorder can play a positive and important role allowing singlet-triplet transitions and resulting in an additional elongated region for the fractional phase, demonstrating the potential of this platform related to applications in topologically protected quantum information. We generalize our approach with an array and Majorana fermions at the edges in a ring geometry. Published by the American Physical Society 2024