arXiv subjects

Chetan Nayak

Publications and source records attributed to Chetan Nayak.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2015

Majorana Zero Modes and Topological Quantum Computation

We provide a current perspective on the rapidly developing field of Majorana zero modes in solid state systems. We emphasize the theoretical prediction, experimental realization, and potential use of Majorana zero modes in future information processing devices through braiding-based topological quantum computation. Well-separated Majorana zero modes should manifest non-Abelian braiding statistics suitable for unitary gate operations for topological quantum computation. Recent experimental work, following earlier theoretical predictions, has shown specific signatures consistent with the existence of Majorana modes localized at the ends of semiconductor nanowires in the presence of superconducting proximity effect. We discuss the experimental findings and their theoretical analyses, and provide a perspective on the extent to which the observations indicate the existence of anyonic Majorana zero modes in solid state systems. We also discuss fractional quantum Hall systems (the 5/2 state) in this context. We describe proposed schemes for carrying out braiding with Majorana zero modes as well as the necessary steps for implementing topological quantum computation.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2015

Classifying symmetry-protected topological phases through the anomalous action of the symmetry on the edge

It is well known that (1+1)-D bosonic symmetry-protected topological (SPT) phases with symmetry group $G$ can be identified by the projective representation of the symmetry at the edge. Here, we generalize this result to higher dimensions. We assume that the representation of the symmetry on the spatial edge of a ($d+1$)-D SPT is /local/ but not necessarily /on-site/, such that there is an obstruction to its implementation on a region with boundary. We show that such obstructions are classified by the cohomology group $H^{d+1}(G, U(1))$, in agreement with the classification of bosonic SPT phases proposed in [Chen et al, Science 338, 1604 (2012)]. Our analysis allows for a straightforward calculation of the element of $H^{d+1}(G, U(1))$ corresponding to physically meaningful models such as non-linear sigma models with a theta term in the action. SPT phases outside the classification of Chen et al are those in which the symmetry cannot be represented locally on the edge. With some modifications, our framework can also be applied to fermionic systems in (2+1)-D.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2014

The Phase Diagram of the $ν=5/2$ Fractional Quantum Hall Effect: Effects of Landau Level Mixing and Non-Zero Width

Interesting non-Abelian states, e.g., the Moore-Read Pfaffian and the anti-Pfaffian, offer candidate descriptions of the $ν= 5/2$ fractional quantum Hall state. But the significant controversy surrounding the nature of the $ν= 5/2$ state has been hampered by the fact that the competition between these and other states is affected by small parameter changes. To study the phase diagram of the $ν= 5/2$ state we numerically diagonalize a comprehensive effective Hamiltonian describing the fractional quantum Hall effect of electrons under realistic conditions in GaAs semiconductors. The effective Hamiltonian takes Landau level mixing into account to lowest-order perturbatively in $κ$, the ratio of the Coulomb energy scale to the cyclotron gap. We also incorporate non-zero width $w$ of the quantum well and sub-band mixing. We find the ground state in both the torus and spherical geometries as a function of $κ$ and $w$. To sort out the non-trivial competition between candidate ground states we analyze the following 4 criteria: its overlap with trial wave functions; the magnitude of energy gaps; the sign of the expectation value of an order parameter for particle-hole symmetry breaking; and the entanglement spectrum. We conclude that the ground state is in the universality class of the Moore-Read Pfaffian state, rather than the anti-Pfaffian, for $κ< {κ_c}(w)$, where ${κ_c}(w)$ is a $w$-dependent critical value $0.6 \lesssim{κ_c}(w)\lesssim 1$. We observe that both Landau level mixing and non-zero width suppress the excitation gap, but Landau level mixing has a larger effect in this regard. Our findings have important implications for the identification of non-Abelian fractional quantum Hall states.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2014

Analyzing many-body localization with a quantum computer

Many-body localization, the persistence against electron-electron interactions of the localization of states with non-zero excitation energy density, poses a challenge to current methods of theoretical and numerical analysis. Numerical simulations have so far been limited to a small number of sites, making it difficult to obtain reliable statements about the thermodynamic limit. In this paper, we explore the ways in which a relatively small quantum computer could be leveraged to study many-body localization. We show that, in addition to studying time-evolution, a quantum computer can, in polynomial time, obtain eigenstates at arbitrary energies to sufficient accuracy that localization can be observed. The limitations of quantum measurement, which preclude the possibility of directly obtaining the entanglement entropy, make it difficult to apply some of the definitions of many-body localization used in the recent literature. We discuss alternative tests of localization that can be implemented on a quantum computer.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2014

The Effects of Landau level mixing on the fractional quantum Hall effect in monolayer Graphene

We report results of exact diagonalization studies of the spin- and valley-polarized fractional quantum Hall effect in the $N=0$ and 1 Landau levels in graphene. We use an effective model that incorporates Landau level mixing to lowest-order in the parameter $κ= \frac{e^2/ε\ell}{\hbar v_F/\ell}=\frac{e^2}{εv_F\hbar}$ which is magnetic field independent and can only be varied through the choice of substrate. We find Landau level mixing effects are negligible in the $N=0$ Landau level for $κ\lesssim 2$. In fact, the lowest Landau level projected Coulomb Hamiltonian is a better approximation to the real Hamiltonian for graphene than it is for semiconductor based quantum wells. Consequently, the principal fractional quantum Hall states are expected in the $N=0$ Landau level over this range of $κ$. In the $N=1$ Landau level, fractional quantum Hall states are expected for a smaller range of $κ$ and Landau level mixing strongly breaks particle-hole symmetry producing qualitatively different results compared to the $N=0$ Landau level. At half-filling of the $N=1$ Landau level, we predict the anti-Pfaffian state will occur for $κ\sim 0.25$-$0.75$.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2014

Unexpected tunneling current from downstream neutral modes

We analyze transport through a quantum point contact in fractional quantum Hall states with counter-propagating neutral edge modes. We show that both the noise (as expected and previously calculated by other authors) and (perhaps surprisingly) the average transmitted current are affected by downstream perturbations within the standard edge state model. We consider two different scenarios for downstream perturbations. We argue that the change in transmitted current should be observable in experiments that have observed increased noise.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2014

Perfect Metal Phases of One-Dimensional and Anisotropic Higher-Dimensional Systems

We show that a 1D quantum wire with $23$ channels of interacting fermions has a perfect metal phase in which all weak perturbations that could destabilize this phase are irrelevant. Consequently, weak disorder does not localize it, a weak periodic potential does not open a gap, and contact with a superconductor also fails to open a gap. Similar phases occur for $N \geq 24$ channels of fermions, except for $N=25$, and for $8k$ channels of interacting bosons, with $k\geq 3$. Arrays of perfect metallic wires form higher-dimensional fermionic or bosonic perfect metals, albeit highly-anisotropic ones.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2014

Bulk-Edge Correspondence in 2+1-Dimensional Abelian Topological Phases

The same bulk two-dimensional topological phase can have multiple distinct, fully-chiral edge phases. We show that this can occur in the integer quantum Hall states at $ν=8$ and 12, with experimentally-testable consequences. We show that this can occur in Abelian fractional quantum Hall states as well, with the simplest examples being at $ν=8/7, 12/11, 8/15, 16/5$. We give a general criterion for the existence of multiple distinct chiral edge phases for the same bulk phase and discuss experimental consequences. Edge phases correspond to lattices while bulk phases correspond to genera of lattices. Since there are typically multiple lattices in a genus, the bulk-edge correspondence is typically one-to-many; there are usually many stable fully chiral edge phases corresponding to the same bulk. We explain these correspondences using the theory of integral quadratic forms. We show that fermionic systems can have edge phases with only bosonic low-energy excitations and discuss a fermionic generalization of the relation between bulk topological spins and the central charge. The latter follows from our demonstration that every fermionic topological phase can be represented as a bosonic topological phase, together with some number of filled Landau levels. Our analysis shows that every Abelian topological phase can be decomposed into a tensor product of theories associated with prime numbers $p$ in which every quasiparticle has a topological spin that is a $p^n$-th root of unity for some $n$. It also leads to a simple demonstration that all Abelian topological phases can be represented by $U(1)^N$ Chern-Simons theory parameterized by a K-matrix.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2014

On Metaplectic Modular Categories and their applications

For non-abelian simple objects in a unitary modular category, the density of their braid group representations, the #P-hard evaluation of their associated link invariants, and the BQP-completeness of their anyonic quantum computing models are closely related. We systematically study such properties of the non-abelian simple objects in metaplectic modular categories, which are unitary modular categories with fusion rules of SO(m)_2 for an odd integer m \geq 3. The simple objects with quantum dimensions \sqrt{m} have finite image braid group representations, and their link invariants are classically efficient to evaluate. We also provide classically efficient simulation of their braid group representations. These simulations of the braid group representations can be regarded as qudit generalizations of the Knill-Gottesmann theorem for the qubit case. The simple objects of dimension 2 give us a surprising result: while their braid group representations have finite images and are efficiently simulable classically after a generalized localization, their link invariants are #P-hard to evaluate exactly. We sharpen the #P-hardness by showing that any sufficiently accurate approximation of their associated link invariants is already #P-hard.

math.QA↗

arXiv2013

A Time-Reversal Invariant Topological Phase at the Surface of a 3D Topological Insulator

A 3D fermionic topological insulator has a gapless Dirac surface state protected by time-reversal symmetry and charge conservation symmetry. The surface state can be gapped by introducing ferromagnetism to break time-reversal symmetry, introducing superconductivity to break charge conservation, or entering a topological phase. In this paper, we construct a minimal gapped topological phase that preserves both time-reversal and charge conservation symmetries and supports Ising-type non-Abelian anyons. This phase can be understood heuristically as emerging from a surface s-wave superconducting state via the condensation of eight-vortex composites. The topological phase inherits vortices supporting Majorana zero modes from the surface superconducting state. However, since it is time-reversal invariant, the surface topological phase is a distinct phase from the Ising topological phase, which can be viewed as a quantum-disordered spin-polarized p_x + i p_y superconductor. We discuss the anyon model of this topological phase and the manner in which time-reversal symmetry is realized in it. We also study the interfaces between the topological state and other surface gapped phases.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

Universal topological quantum computation from a superconductor/Abelian quantum Hall heterostructure

Non-Abelian anyons promise to reveal spectacular features of quantum mechanics that could ultimately provide the foundation for a decoherence-free quantum computer. A key breakthrough in the pursuit of these exotic particles originated from Read and Green's observation that the Moore-Read quantum Hall state and a (relatively simple) two-dimensional p+ip superconductor both support so-called Ising non-Abelian anyons. Here we establish a similar correspondence between the Z_3 Read-Rezayi quantum Hall state and a novel two-dimensional superconductor in which charge-2e Cooper pairs are built from fractionalized quasiparticles. In particular, both phases harbor Fibonacci anyons that---unlike Ising anyons---allow for universal topological quantum computation solely through braiding. Using a variant of Teo and Kane's construction of non-Abelian phases from weakly coupled chains, we provide a blueprint for such a superconductor using Abelian quantum Hall states interlaced with an array of superconducting islands. Fibonacci anyons appear as neutral deconfined particles that lead to a two-fold ground-state degeneracy on a torus. In contrast to a p+ip superconductor, vortices do not yield additional particle types yet depending on non-universal energetics can serve as a trap for Fibonacci anyons. These results imply that one can, in principle, combine well-understood and widely available phases of matter to realize non-Abelian anyons with universal braid statistics. Numerous future directions are discussed, including speculations on alternative realizations with fewer experimental requirements.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

Microwave Absorption by a Mesoscopic Quantum Hall Droplet

We consider the absorption of microwaves by a quantum Hall droplet. We show that the number and velocities of charged edge modes can be directly measured from a droplet of known shape. In contrast to standard transport measurements, different edge equilibration regimes can be accessed in the same device. If there is a quantum point contact in the droplet, then quasiparticle properties, including braiding statistics, can be observed. Their effects are manifested as modulations of the microwave absorption spectrum that are, notably, first-order in the tunneling amplitude at the point contact.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

More Realistic Hamiltonians for the Fractional Quantum Hall Regime in GaAs and Graphene

We construct an effective Hamiltonian for electrons in the fractional quantum Hall regime for GaAs and graphene that takes into account Landau level mixing (for both GaAs and graphene) and subband mixing (for GaAs, due to the nonzero width of the quantum well). This mixing has the important qualitative effect of breaking particle-hole symmetry as well as renormalizing the strength of the interparticle interactions. Both effects could have important consequences for the prospect that the fractional quantum Hall effect at $ν=5/2$ is described by states that support non-Abelian excitations such as the Moore-Read Pfaffian or anti-Pfaffian states. For GaAs, Landau level and subband mixing break particle-hole symmetry in all Landau levels and subband mixing, due to finite thickness, causes additional short-distance softening of the Coulomb interaction, further renormalizing the Hamiltonian; additionally, the Landau level and subband energy spacings are comparable so it is crucial to consider both effects simultaneously. We find that in graphene, Landau level mixing only breaks particle-hole symmetry outside of the lowest Landau level ($N\neq0$). Landau level mixing is likely to be especially important in graphene since the Landau level mixing parameter is independent of the external magnetic field and is of order one. Our realistic Hamiltonians will serve as starting points for future numerical studies.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2013

Area laws in a many-body localized state and its implications for topological order

The question whether Anderson insulators can persist to finite-strength interactions - a scenario dubbed many-body localization - has recently received a great deal of interest. The origin of such a many-body localized phase has been described as localization in Fock space, a picture we examine numerically. We then formulate a precise sense in which a single energy eigenstate of a Hamiltonian can be adiabatically connected to a state of a non-interacting Anderson insulator. We call such a state a many-body localized state and define a many-body localized phase as one in which almost all states are many-body localized states. We explore the possible consequences of this; the most striking is an area law for the entanglement entropy of almost all excited states in a many-body localized phase. We present the results of numerical calculations for a one-dimensional system of spinless fermions. Our results are consistent with an area law and, by implication, many-body localization for almost all states and almost all regions for weak enough interactions and strong disorder. However, there are rare regions and rare states with much larger entanglement entropies. Furthermore, we study the implications that many-body localization may have for topological phases and self-correcting quantum memories. We find that there are scenarios in which many-body localization can help to stabilize topological order at non-zero energy density, and we propose potentially useful criteria to confirm these scenarios.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2013

Origin and Transport Signatures of Spin-Orbit Interactions in One- and Two-Dimensional SrTiO$_3$-Based Heterostructures

We study origin of Rashba spin-orbit interaction at SrTiO$_3$ surfaces and LaAlO$_3$/SrTiO$_3$ interfaces by considering the interplay between atomic spin-orbit coupling and inversion asymmetry at the surface or interface. We show that, in a simple tight-binding model involving 3d $t_{2g}$ bands of Ti ions, the induced spin-orbit coupling in the $d_{xz}$ and $d_{yz}$ bands is cubic in momentum whereas the spin-orbit interaction in the $d_{xy}$ band has linear momentum dependence. We also find that the spin-orbit interaction in one-dimensional channels at LaAlO$_3$/SrTiO$_3$ interfaces is linear in momentum for all bands. We discuss implications of our results for transport experiments on SrTiO$_3$ surfaces and LaAlO$_3$/SrTiO$_3$ interfaces. In particular, we analyze the effect of a given spin-orbit interaction term on magnetotransport of LaAlO$_3$/SrTiO$_3$ by calculating weak anti-localization corrections to the conductance and to universal conductance fluctuations.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

Short-Range Entangled Bosonic States with Chiral Edge Modes and $T$-duality of Heterotic Strings

We consider states of bosons in two dimensions that do not support anyons in the bulk, but nevertheless have stable chiral edge modes that are protected even without any symmetry. Such states must have edge modes with central charge $c=8k$ for integer $k$. While there is a single such state with $c=8$, there are, naively, two such states with $c=16$, corresponding to the two distinct even unimodular lattices in 16 dimensions. However, we show that these two phases are the same in the bulk, which is a consequence of the uniqueness of signature $(8k +n, n)$ even unimodular lattices. The bulk phases are stably equivalent, in a sense that we make precise. However, there are two different phases of the edge corresponding to these two lattices, thereby realizing a novel form of the bulk-edge correspondence. Two distinct fully chiral edge phases are associated with the same bulk phase, which is consistent with the uniqueness of the bulk since the transition between them, which is generically first-order, can occur purely at the edge. Our construction is closely related to $T$-duality of toroidally compactified heterotic strings. We discuss generalizations of these results.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

Freezing of an unconventional two-dimensional plasma

We study an unconventional two-dimensional, two-component classical plasma on a sphere, with emphasis on detecting signatures of melting transitions. This system is relevant to Ising-type quantum Hall states, and is unconventional in the sense that it features particles interacting via two different two-dimensional Coulomb interactions. One species of particles in the plasma carries charge of both types (Q_1,Q_2), while the other species carries only charge of the second type (0,-Q_2). We find signatures of a freezing transition at Q_1^2 approximately 140. This means that the species with charge of both types will form a Wigner crystal, whereas the species with charge of the second type also shows signatures of being a Wigner crystal, due to the attractive inter-component interaction of the second type. Moreover, there is also a Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless phase transition at Q_2^2 approximately 4, at which the two species of particles bind to form molecules that are neutral with respect to the second Coulomb interaction. These two transitions appear to be independent of each other, giving a rectangular phase diagram. As a special case, Q_2=0 describes the (conventional) two-dimensional one-component plasma. Our study is consistent with previous studies of this plasma, and sheds new light on the freezing transition of this system.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2012

Quasi-Topological Phases of Matter and Topological Protection

We discuss systems which have some, but not all of the hallmarks of topological phases. These systems' topological character is not fully captured by a local order parameter, but they are also not fully described at low energies by topological quantum field theories. For such systems, we formulate the concepts of quasi-topological phases (to be contrasted with true topological phases), and symmetry-protected quasi-topological phases. We describe examples of systems in each class and discuss the implications for topological protection of information and operations. We explain why topological phases and quasi-topological phases have greater stability than is sometimes appreciated. In the examples that we discuss, we focus on Ising-type (a.k.a. Majorana) systems particularly relevant to recent theoretical advances and experimental efforts.

cond-mat.str-el↗