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Universal Impurity-Induced Bound State in Topological Superfluids

Hui Hu, Lei Jiang, Han Pu, Yan Chen, and Xia-Ji Liu
Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 020401 – Published 10 January 2013
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Abstract

We predict a universal midgap bound state in topological superfluids, induced by either nonmagnetic or magnetic impurities in the strong scattering limit. This universal state is similar to the lowest-energy Caroli–de Gennes–Martricon bound state in a vortex core, but is bound to localized impurities. We argue that the observation of such a universal bound state can be a clear signature for identifying topological superfluids. We theoretically examine our argument for a spin-orbit coupled ultracold atomic Fermi gas trapped in a two-dimensional harmonic potential by performing extensive self-consistent calculations within the mean-field Bogoliubov–de Gennes theory. A realistic scenario for observing a universal bound state in ultracold K40 atoms is proposed.

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  • Received 21 September 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.020401

© 2013 American Physical Society

Synopsis

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Useful Impurities

Published 10 January 2013

Adding impurities to a topological superfluid—a predicted state of matter believed to host Majorana particles—may be the best way to prove it exists.

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Authors & Affiliations

Hui Hu1, Lei Jiang2, Han Pu3, Yan Chen4, and Xia-Ji Liu1,*

  • 1Centre for Atom Optics and Ultrafast Spectroscopy, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne 3122, Australia
  • 2Joint Quantum Institute, University of Maryland and National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, USA
  • 3Department of Physics and Astronomy, and Rice Quantum Institute, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77251, USA
  • 4Department of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics and Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China

  • *xiajiliu@swin.edu.au

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Issue

Vol. 110, Iss. 2 — 11 January 2013

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