Work

Coulomb-assisted braiding of Majorana fermions in a Josephson junction array

Year: 2012

Type: article

Abstract: We show how to exchange (braid) Majorana fermions in a network of superconducting nanowires by control over Coulomb interactions rather than tunneling. Even though Majorana fermions are charge-neutral quasiparticles (equal to their own antiparticle), they have an effective long-range interaction through the even–odd electron number dependence of the superconducting ground state. The flux through a split Josephson junction controls this interaction via the ratio of Josephson and charging energies, with exponential sensitivity. By switching the interaction on and off in neighboring segments of a Josephson junction array, the non-Abelian braiding statistics can be realized without the need to control tunnel couplings by gate electrodes.

Source: New Journal of Physics

DOI: 10.1088/1367-2630/14/3/035019

Authors: B van Heck, A R Akhmerov, F Hassler, M Burrello, C W J Beenakker

Institutions: Leiden University, RWTH Aachen University

Language: English

Topic: Topological Materials and Phenomena

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,610

Funder: Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek