How do we discover Majorana particles in nanowires?

Data de Início: 
quinta-feira, 13 Maio, 2021 - 16:00
Palestrante: 
Prof. Sergey Frolov, University of Pittsburgh
Local: 
Videoconferência
 
Resumo: Majorana particles are real solutions of the Dirac equation, representing their own antiparticles. In the condensed matter context, Majorana refers to electronic modes in nanostructures described by peculiar ‘pulled-apart’ wavefunctions and by hypothesized non-Abelian exchange. This last property makes them interesting for quantum computing. I will present our efforts to generate and verify Majorana modes in semiconductor nanowires coupled to superconductors. In particular, how can we tell Majorana signatures apart from similar Andreev states that do not have non-Abelian properties? While we may not have a verified Majorana observation now, I will talk about ways to get there: through careful experiments, improved nanowires and device fabrication and with eyes open for alternative explanations.

 

Sobre o palestrante: He is an experimentalist in the field of condensed matter physics. I study electrical properties of nanometre-size objects. As we find ways  to shrink one, two or all three dimensions of a solid, insights into how nature works on the scale of single electrons get uncovered. Along come prospects of smaller, faster and fundamentally different electronic devices. A spin computer or a quantum computer are examples. Nanofabrication makes it possible to attach electrodes to individual molecules or build artificial atoms. Novel materials such as graphene and semiconductor nanowires contribute previously unattainable properties to our toolbox. At TU Delft I investigate spin physics in nanowire quantum dots and superconductivity induced in semiconductors. In 2012 I move to the University of Pittsburgh, where I am now building a low temperature quantum transport laboratory.

 

Palavras-chaves: Majorana particles, superconductors, nanowires, topological quantum bits

 

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