Exact results for spin dynamics and fractionization in the Kitaev Model

We present certain exact analytical results for dynamical spin correlation functions in the Kitaev Model. It is the first result of its kind in non-trivial quantum spin models. The result is also novel: in spite of presence of gapless propagating Majorana fermion excitations, dynamical two spin correlation functions are identically zero beyond nearest neighbor separation, showing existence of a gapless but short range spin liquid. An unusual, \emph{all energy scale fractionization}of a spin -flip quanta, into two infinitely massive $\pi$-fluxes and a dynamical Majorana fermion, is shown to occur. As the Kitaev Model exemplifies topological quantum computation, our result presents new insights into qubit dynamics and generation of topological excitations.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures. Typose corrected, figure made better, clarifying statements and references adde

Friedel oscillations due to Fermi arcs in Weyl semimetals

Weyl semimetals harbor unusual surface states known as Fermi arcs, which are essentially disjoint segments of a two dimensional Fermi surface. We describe a prescription for obtaining Fermi arcs of arbitrary shape and connectivity by stacking alternate two dimensional electron and hole Fermi surfaces and adding suitable interlayer coupling. Using this prescription, we compute the local density of states -- a quantity directly relevant to scanning tunneling microscopy -- on a Weyl semimetal surface in the presence of a point scatterer and present results for a particular model that is expected to apply to pyrochlore iridate Weyl semimetals. For thin samples, Fermi arcs on opposite surfaces conspire to allow nested backscattering, resulting in strong Friedel oscillations on the surface. These oscillations die out as the sample thickness is increased and Fermi arcs from the bottom surface retreat and weak oscillations, due to scattering between the top surface Fermi arcs alone, survive. The surface spectral function -- accessible to photoemission experiments -- is also computed. In the thermodynamic limit, this calculation can be done analytically and separate contributions from the Fermi arcs and the bulk states can be seen.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures; minor changes in figures and text, typos correcte

Symmetry and Topological Order

We prove sufficient conditions for Topological Quantum Order at both zero and finite temperatures. The crux of the proof hinges on the existence of low-dimensional Gauge-Like Symmetries (that notably extend and differ from standard local gauge symmetries) and their associated defects, thus providing a unifying framework based on a symmetry principle. These symmetries may be actual invariances of the system, or may emerge in the low-energy sector. Prominent examples of Topological Quantum Order display Gauge-Like Symmetries. New systems exhibiting such symmetries include Hamiltonians depicting orbital-dependent spin exchange and Jahn-Teller effects in transition metal orbital compounds, short-range frustrated Klein spin models, and p+ip superconducting arrays. We analyze the physical consequences of Gauge-Like Symmetries (including topological terms and charges), discuss associated braiding, and show the insufficiency of the energy spectrum, topological entanglement entropy, maximal string correlators, and fractionalization in establishing Topological Quantum Order. General symmetry considerations illustrate that not withstanding spectral gaps, thermal fluctuations may impose restrictions on certain suggested quantum computing schemes and lead to "thermal fragility". Our results allow us to go beyond standard topological field theories and engineer systems with Topological Quantum Order.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures. Minimal changes relative to published version- most notably the above shortened title (which was too late to change upon request in the galley proofs). An elaborate description of all of the results in this article appeared in subsequent works, principally in arXiv:cond-mat/0702377 which was published in the Annals of Physics 324, 977- 1057 (2009

Detecting non-Abelian Statistics with Electronic Mach-Zehnder Interferometer

Fractionally charged quasiparticles in the quantum Hall state with filling factor $\nu=5/2$ are expected to obey non-Abelian statistics. We demonstrate that their statistics can be probed by transport measurements in an electronic Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The tunneling current through the interferometer exhibits a characteristic dependence on the magnetic flux and a non-analytic dependence on the tunneling amplitudes which can be controlled by gate voltages.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures; Revtex; a discussion of the asymmetry of the I-V curve adde

Quantum simulators, continuous-time automata, and translationally invariant systems

The general problem of finding the ground state energy of lattice Hamiltonians is known to be very hard, even for a quantum computer. We show here that this is the case even for translationally invariant systems. We also show that a quantum computer can be built in a 1D chain with a fixed, translationally invariant Hamitonian consisting of nearest--neighbor interactions only. The result of the computation is obtained after a prescribed time with high probability.Comment: partily rewritten and important references include

Connection Formulae for Asymptotics of Solutions of the Degenerate Third Painlev\'{e} Equation. I

The degenerate third Painlev\'{e} equation, $u^{\prime \prime} = \frac{(u^{\prime})^{2}}{u} - \frac{u^{\prime}}{\tau} + \frac{1}{\tau}(-8 \epsilon u^{2} + 2ab) + \frac{b^{2}}{u}$, where $\epsilon,b \in \mathbb{R}$, and $a \in \mathbb{C}$, and the associated tau-function are studied via the Isomonodromy Deformation Method. Connection formulae for asymptotics of the general as $\tau \to \pm 0$ and $\pm i0$ solution and general regular as $\tau \to \pm \infty$ and $\pm i \infty$ solution are obtained.Comment: 40 pages, LaTeX2

Ettingshausen effect due to Majorana modes

The presence of Majorana zero-energy modes at vortex cores in a topological superconductor implies that each vortex carries an extra entropy $s_0$, given by $(k_{B}/2)\ln 2$, that is independent of temperature. By utilizing this special property of Majorana modes, the edges of a topological superconductor can be cooled (or heated) by the motion of the vortices across the edges. As vortices flow in the transverse direction with respect to an external imposed supercurrent, due to the Lorentz force, a thermoelectric effect analogous to the Ettingshausen effect is expected to occur between opposing edges. We propose an experiment to observe this thermoelectric effect, which could directly probe the intrinsic entropy of Majorana zero-energy modes.Comment: 16 pages, 3 figure

Spin Berry phase in the Fermi arc states

Unusual electronic property of a Weyl semi-metallic nanowire is revealed. Its band dispersion exhibits multiple subbands of partially flat dispersion, originating from the Fermi arc states. Remarkably, the lowest energy flat subbands bear a finite size energy gap, implying that electrons in the Fermi arc surface states are susceptible of the spin Berry phase. This is shown to be a consequence of spin-to-surface locking in the surface electronic states. We verify this behavior and the existence of spin Berry phase in the low-energy effective theory of Fermi arc surface states on a cylindrical nanowire by deriving the latter from a bulk Weyl Hamiltonian. We point out that in any surface state exhibiting a spin Berry phase pi, a zero-energy bound state is formed along a magnetic flux tube of strength, hc/(2e). This effect is highlighted in a surfaceless bulk system pierced by a dislocation line, which shows a 1D chiral mode along the dislocation line.Comment: 9 pages, 9 figure

Topological entropy of realistic quantum Hall wave functions

The entanglement entropy of the incompressible states of a realistic quantum Hall system are studied by direct diagonalization. The subdominant term to the area law, the topological entanglement entropy, which is believed to carry information about topologic order in the ground state, was extracted for filling factors 1/3, 1/5 and 5/2. The results for 1/3 and 1/5 are consistent with the topological entanglement entropy for the Laughlin wave function. The 5/2 state exhibits a topological entanglement entropy consistent with the Moore-Read wave function.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures; improved computations and graphics; added reference