Disorder-induced Majorana metal in interacting non-Abelian anyon systems

Chris R. Laumann, Andreas W.W. Ludwig, David A. Huse, Simon Trebst

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

45 Scopus citations

Abstract

We demonstrate that a thermal metal of Majorana fermions forms in a two-dimensional system of interacting non-Abelian (Ising) anyons in the presence of moderate disorder. This bulk metallic phase arises in the ν=5/2 quantum Hall state when disorder pins the anyonic quasiparticles. More generally, it naturally occurs for various proposed systems supporting Majorana fermion zero modes when disorder induces the random pinning of a finite density of vortices. This includes all two-dimensional topological superconductors in so-called symmetry class D. A distinct experimental signature of the thermal metal phase is the presence of bulk heat transport down to zero temperature.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number161301
JournalPhysical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
Volume85
Issue number16
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 11 2012

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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