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arXiv · 1308.4436

Majorana Excitations, Spin- and Mass Currents on the Surface of Topological Superfluid $^3$He-B

Hao Wu·J. A. Sauls
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Abstract

The B-phase of superfluid $^3$He is a 3D time-reversal invariant (TRI) topological superfluid with an isotropic energy gap separating the ground-state and bulk continuum states. We report calculations of surface spectrum, spin- and mass current densities originating from the Andreev surface states for confined $^3$He-B. The surface states are Majorana Fermions with their spins polarized transverse to their direction of propagation along the surface. The negative energy states give rise to a ground-state helical spin current confined on the surface. The spectral functions reveal the subtle role of the spin-polarized surface states in relation to the ground-state spin current. By contrast, these states do not contribute to the $T=0$ mass current. Superfluid flow through a channel of confined $^3$He-B is characterized by the flow field, $p_s$. The flow field breaks 2D rotational symmetry and time reversal (T). However, the Bogoliubov-Nambu Hamiltonian remains invariant under $T$ combined with a 180 degree rotation about the normal to the film. As a result the B-phase in the presence of a superflow remains a topological phase with a gapless spectrum of Majorana modes on the surface. Thermal excitation of the Doppler shifted Majorana branches leads to a power law suppression of the superfluid mass current, providing a direct signature of the Majorana branches of surface excitations in the fully gapped 3D topological superfluid, $^3$He-B. Results are reported for the superfluid fraction (mass current) and helical spin current for confined $^3$He-B, including the temperature dependences, as well as dependences on confinement, interactions between quasiparticles and pressure.

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Hao Wu, J. A. Sauls. 2013-08-20. Majorana Excitations, Spin- and Mass Currents on the Surface of Topological Superfluid $^3$He-B. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.88.184506

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