Time-reversal-invariant topological superconductors and superfluids in two and three dimensions

Xiao Liang Qi, Taylor L. Hughes, S. Raghu, Shou Cheng Zhang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We construct time-reversal invariant topological superconductors and superfluids in two and three dimensions. These states have a full pairing gap in the bulk, gapless counterpropagating Majorana states at the boundary, and a pair of Majorana zero modes associated with each vortex. The superfluid He3 B phase provides a physical realization of the topological superfluidity, with experimentally measurable surface states protected by the time-reversal symmetry. We show that the time-reversal symmetry naturally emerges as a supersymmetry, which changes the parity of the fermion number associated with each time-reversal invariant vortex and connects each vortex with its superpartner.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number187001
JournalPhysical review letters
Volume102
Issue number18
DOIs
StatePublished - May 4 2009
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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