Surface Majorana Cone of the Superfluid 3He B Phase

What is it about?

An important feature of Majorana fermions in the superfluid 3He B phase is the linear dispersion of the surface states, which is referred to as the Majorana cone. Majorana fermions, which are their own antiparticles, were initially introduced in the field of elementary particle physics, but have recently received renewed attention in condensed matter physics. Our finding of peak growth in the acoustic impedance is theoretically well explained by the formation of a clear Majorana cone in the surface states and provides evidence for Majorana fermions.

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Why is it important?

These fermions follow non-Abelian exchange statistics and are key building blocks for error-tolerant topological quantum computations. To date, Majorana fermions have yet to be identified in a physical system; thus, there is a race to realize this exotic state in various systems such as the surface or vortex core states in spin-triplet px+ipy superconductors, interface states between a superconductor and topological insulator, excitations in the even denominator fractional quantum Hall system, etc. Although superfluid 3He B is the oldest unconventional fermionic condensate experimentally realized, it is one of the newest topological matter theoretically predicted to support Majorana fermion surface states. Our finding of peak growth in the acoustic impedance indicates the formation of a clear Majorana cone and provides evidence for Majorana fermions.