Majorana fermions in strongly interacting helical liquids

Eran Sela, Alexander Altland, and Achim Rosch
Phys. Rev. B 84, 085114 – Published 22 August 2011

Abstract

Majorana fermions were proposed to occur at edges and interfaces of gapped one-dimensional systems where phases with different topological character meet due to an interplay of spin-orbit coupling, proximity-induced superconductivity and external magnetic fields. Here we investigate the effect of strong particle interactions and show that a helical liquid offers a mechanism that protects the very existence of Majorana edge states: whereas moderate interactions close the proximity gap that supports the edge states, in helical liquids the gap reopens due to two-particle processes. However, gapless fermionic excitations occur at spatial proximity to the Majorana states at interfaces and may jeopardize their long-term Majorana coherence.

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  • Received 4 July 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.84.085114

©2011 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Eran Sela, Alexander Altland, and Achim Rosch

  • Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Cologne, D-50937 Cologne, Germany

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Issue

Vol. 84, Iss. 8 — 15 August 2011

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