scholarly journals Search for non-Abelian Majorana braiding statistics in superconductors

Author(s):  
Carlo Beenakker

This is a tutorial review of methods to braid non-Abelian anyons (Majorana zero-modes) in topological superconductors. That ``Holy Grail'' of topological quantum information processing has not yet been reached in the laboratory, but there now exists a variety of platforms in which one can search for the Majorana braiding statistics. After an introduction to the basic concepts of braiding we discuss how one might be able to braid immobile Majorana zero-modes, bound to the end points of a nanowire, by performing the exchange in parameter space, rather than in real space. We explain how Coulomb interaction can be used to both control and read out the braiding operation, even though Majorana zero-modes are charge neutral. We ask whether the fusion rule might provide for an easier pathway towards the demonstration of non-Abelian statistics. In the final part we discuss an approach to braiding in real space, rather than parameter space, using vortices injected into a chiral Majorana edge mode as ``flying qubits''.

2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 412-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Alicea ◽  
Yuval Oreg ◽  
Gil Refael ◽  
Felix von Oppen ◽  
Matthew P. A. Fisher

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 397-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuval Oreg ◽  
Felix von Oppen

Recent experimental progress introduced devices that can combine topological superconductivity with Coulomb-blockade effects. Experiments with these devices have already provided additional evidence for Majorana zero modes in proximity-coupled semiconductor wires. They also stimulated numerous ideas for how to exploit interactions between Majorana zero modes generated by Coulomb charging effects in networks of Majorana wires. Coulomb effects promise to become a powerful tool in the quest for a topological quantum computer as well as for driving topological superconductors into topologically ordered insulating states. Here, we present a focused review of these recent developments, including discussions of recent experiments, designs of topological qubits, Majorana-based implementations of universal quantum computation, and topological quantum error correction. Motivated by the analogy between a qubit and a spin-1/2 degree of freedom, we also review how coupling between Cooper-pair boxes leads to emergent topologically ordered insulating phases.


2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
David P. DiVincenzo ◽  
Charles H. Bennett

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