Thermal Interferometry of Anyons in Spin Liquids

Zezhu Wei, V. F. Mitrović, and D. E. Feldman
Phys. Rev. Lett. 127, 167204 – Published 11 October 2021
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Abstract

Aharonov-Bohm interferometry is the most direct probe of anyonic statistics in the quantum Hall effect. The technique involves oscillations of the electric current as a function of the magnetic field and is not applicable to Kitaev spin liquids and other systems without charged quasiparticles. Here, we establish a novel protocol, involving heat transport, for revealing fractional statistics even in the absence of charged excitations, as is the case in quantum spin liquids. Specifically, we demonstrate that heat transport in Kitaev spin liquids through two distinct interferometer’s geometries, Fabry-Perot and Mach-Zehnder, exhibit drastically different behaviors. Therefore, we propose the use of heat transport interferometry as a probe of anyonic statistics in charge insulators.

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  • Received 24 May 2021
  • Accepted 22 September 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.127.167204

© 2021 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Zezhu Wei1,2, V. F. Mitrović1, and D. E. Feldman1,2

  • 1Department of Physics, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA
  • 2Brown Theoretical Physics Center, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA

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Issue

Vol. 127, Iss. 16 — 15 October 2021

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