拓扑超导Majorana束缚态的探索

Majorana束缚态具有非阿贝尔量子统计特性,是极具潜力的拓扑量子计算方案的核心.近期有多项实验研究提供了Majorana束缚态在某些超导体系中的存在证据,使其成为近期凝聚态物理以及量子计算领域的前沿焦点之一.本文介绍拓扑超导的机理、Majorana束缚态的新奇物理特性、实验观测和操作的方法以及相关量子器件的设计,最后展望该研究方向的发展前景.

Exploration of Majorana bound states in topological superconductors

Majorana bound states are considered useful for realizing topological quantum computation since they obey the non-Abelian quantum statistics.Recent experiments have provided evidences for their existence in some superconducting systems,triggering significant interests from scientists in the field of condensed matter physics and related materials science.In this article,we briefly review the basic concepts and recent developments in the study of Majorana bound states.We first discuss about the origin of the nontrivial topology in superconducting systems within the Bogoliubov-de Gennes mean-field scheme.Then we show the construction of Majorana quasiparticle excitations from an electronic state,and the realization of non-Abelian statistics based on position exchanges of the Majorana bound states hosted in superconductivity vortices.Afterwards we talk about specific one-dimensional and two-dimensional topological superconductors,and propose possible experimental methods for detecting Majorana bound states and operating the Majorana qubits.In particular,a quantum device for Majorana braiding without moving vortices is introduced.Finally,perspectives of the study on Majorana bound states are provided.