Proposed experiments to probe the neutral edge modes and quantum statistics in topological superconductors |
| TYPE | Condensed 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. |