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Proposed experiments to probe the neutral edge modes and quantum statistics in topological superconductors

TYPECondensed Matter Seminar
Speaker:Dr. Eytan Grosfeld
Affiliation:Institute of Condensed Matter Theory, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
Date:30.11.2010
Time:14:30
Location:Lidow Nathan Rosen (300)
Abstract:Topological order in condensed matter systems has recently emerged as an important tool to 
classify novel phases of matter. A prototypical example of a topological phase is a p-wave super- 
conductor in its “weak-pairing” phase, which supports neutral Majorana modes on the edges of 
the sample and in cores of vortices. Similar physics is manifested in the quantum Hall effect at 
certain filling factors. In this talk I will discuss proposed experiments to probe the presence of such 
neutral edge modes in p-wave superconductors and in the quantum Hall effect. I will present novel 
results regarding the persistence of Majorana modes into insulating barriers, providing a way to 
coherently and effectively manipulate them. Some of these proposed experiments have led to active 
experimental study and recent data will be presented.