Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:2111.12096

Spin chains, defects, and quantum wires for the quantum-double edge

Victor V. Albert, David Aasen, Wenqing Xu, Wenjie Ji, Jason Alicea, John P. Preskill

Published Nov 23, 2021• 3 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Non-Abelian defects that bind Majorana or parafermion zero modes are prominent in several topological quantum computation schemes. Underpinning their established understanding is the quantum Ising spin chain, which can be recast as a fermionic model or viewed as a standalone effective theory for the surface-code edge -- both of which harbor non-Abelian defects. We generalize these notions by deriving an effective Ising-like spin chain describing the edge of quantum-double topological order. Relating Majorana and parafermion modes to anyonic strings, we introduce quantum-double generalizations of non-Abelian defects. We develop a way to embed finite-group valued qunits into those valued in continuous groups. Using this embedding, we provide a continuum description of the spin chain and recast its non-interacting part as a quantum wire via addition of a Wess-Zumino-Novikov-Witten term and non-Abelian bosonization.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.2111.12096

Related papers

Theory of defects in Abelian topological states

Maissam Barkeshli, Chao‐Ming Jian, Xiao-Liang Qi

The structure of extrinsic defects in topologically ordered states of matter is host to a rich set of universal physics. Extrinsic defects in $2+1$-dimensional topological states include linelike defects, such as boundaries between topologically distinct states, and pointlike defects, such as junctions between different line defects. Gapped boundaries in particular can themselves be topologically distinct, and the junctions between them can localize topologically protected zero modes, giving rise to topological ground-state degeneracies and projective non-Abelian statistics. In this paper, we develop a general theory of point defects and gapped line defects in $2+1$-dimensional Abelian topological states. We derive a classification of topologically distinct gapped boundaries in terms of certain maximal subgroups of quasiparticles with mutually bosonic statistics, called Lagrangian subgroups. The junctions between different gapped boundaries provide a general classification of point defects in topological states, including as a special case the twist defects considered in previous works. We derive a general formula for the quantum dimension of these point defects and a general understanding of their localized ``parafermion'' zero modes and we define a notion of projective non-Abelian statistics for them. The critical phenomena between topologically distinct gapped boundaries can be understood in terms of a general class of quantum spin chains or, equivalently, ``generalized parafermion'' chains. This provides a way of realizing exotic $1+1\mathrm{D}$ generalized parafermion conformal field theories in condensed-matter systems.

arXiv:1305.7203•Physical Review B•Dec 2, 2013•179 citations

Anyonic symmetry and twist defects

Mayukh Nilay Khan

Non-Abelian excitations are sought after because of the promise they hold for topological quantum computation. However, in spite of many proposals of systems in which they can occur intrinsically, observation has proved to be elusive. In this thesis, we study ways in which we can engineer such excitations by combining two parent Abelian theories, and as a result allow for defects which host non-Abelian zero modes. We first formulate the symmetries of the anyonic excitations of Abelian topological states. Then, we study properties of semiclassical point defects, called twist defects, which permute orbiting anyons by their symmetries. We see how to realize these defects at domain walls on the gapped edges of non-chiral fractional quantum Hall states. We have distinct gapped edge phases in one to one correspondence with the anyonic symmetries. Non-Abelian twist defects appear between different gapped phases. We study the twist defects for a variety of bosonic ADE fractional quantum spin Hall systems for which the anyonic symmetries turn out to be given by their Dynkin diagrams. We also look at superconducting heterostructures with fermionic quantum Hall states and show the presence of anyonic symmetries and twist defects which physically correspond to a fermion parity flip. This can result in Majorana bound states at such defects instead of more exotic parafermions as was believed before. This is because the presence of the superconductor necessitates the consideration of a larger bosonic topological order. We then investigate the twist defects further by promoting the anyonic symmetries from global to local. This deconfines the defects and results in non-Abelian topological states called twist liquids. Finally, we study the emergence of new topological order from two constituent systems driven by the condensation of a composite boson. This allows us to study a variety of systems with non-Abelian excitations.

•Oct 13, 2017•0 citations

Parafermionic edge zero modes in Zn-invariant spin chains

Paul Fendley

Abstract A sign of topological order in a gapped one-dimensional quantum chain is the existence of edge zero modes. These occur in the Z 2-invariant Ising/Majorana chain, where they can be understood using free-fermion techniques. Here I discuss their presence in spin chains with Z n symmetry, and prove that for appropriate couplings they are exact, even in this strongly interacting system. These modes are naturally expressed in terms of parafermions, generalizations of fermions to the Z n case. I show that parafermionic edge zero modes do not occur in the usual ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic cases, but rather only when the interactions are chiral, so that spatial-parity and time-reversal symmetries are broken.

arXiv:1209.0472•Journal of Statistical Mechanics Theory and Experiment•Nov 1, 2012•373 citations

Defects between gapped boundaries in two-dimensional topological phases of matter

Iris Cong, Meng Cheng, Zhenghan Wang

Defects between gapped boundaries provide a possible physical realization of projective non-Abelian braid statistics. A notable example is the projective Majorana/parafermion braid statistics of boundary defects in fractional quantum Hall/topological insulator and superconductor heterostructures. In this paper, we develop general theories to analyze the topological properties and projective braiding of boundary defects of topological phases of matter in two spatial dimensions. We present commuting Hamiltonians to realize defects between gapped boundaries in any $(2+1)D$ untwisted Dijkgraaf-Witten theory, and use these to describe their topological properties such as their quantum dimension. By modeling the algebraic structure of boundary defects through multifusion categories, we establish a bulk-edge correspondence between certain boundary defects and symmetry defects in the bulk. Even though it is not clear how to physically braid the defects, this correspondence elucidates the projective braid statistics for many classes of boundary defects, both amongst themselves and with bulk anyons. Specifically, three such classes of importance to condensed matter physics/topological quantum computation are studied in detail: (1) a boundary defect version of Majorana and parafermion zero modes, (2) a similar version of genons in bilayer theories, and (3) boundary defects in $\mathfrak{D}({S}_{3})$.

arXiv:1703.03564•Physical review. B./Physical review. B•Nov 14, 2017•36 citations

Topological insulating phases of non-Abelian anyonic chains

Wade DeGottardi

Boundary conformal field theory is brought to bear on the study of topological insulating phases of non-Abelian anyonic chains. These phases display protected anyonic end modes. We consider spin-1/2 su(2)${}_{k}$ chains at any level $k$, focusing on the most prominent examples: the case $k=2$ describes Ising anyons (equivalent to Majorana fermions) and $k=3$ corresponds to Fibonacci anyons. The method we develop is quite general and rests on a deep connection between boundary conformal field theory and topological symmetry. This method tightly constrains the nature of the topological insulating phases of these chains for general $k$. Emergent anyons which arise at domain walls are shown to have the same braiding properties as the physical quasiparticles. This suggests a ``solid-state'' topological quantum computation scheme in which emergent anyons are braided by tuning the couplings of non-Abelian quasiparticles in a fixed network.

arXiv:1403.3101•Physical Review B•Aug 18, 2014•5 citations

Edge Z3 parafermions in fermionic lattices

Raphael L. R. C. Teixeira, Luis G. G. V. Dias da Silva

Parafermion modes are non-Abelian anyons which were introduced as ${\mathbb{Z}}_{N}$ generalizations of ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2}$ Majorana states. In particular, ${\mathbb{Z}}_{3}$ parafermions can be used to produce Fibonacci anyons, laying a path towards universal topological quantum computation. Due to their fractional nature, much of the theoretical work on ${\mathbb{Z}}_{3}$ parafermions has relied on bosonization methods or parafermionic quasiparticles. In this paper, we introduce a representation of ${\mathbb{Z}}_{3}$ parafermions in terms of purely fermionic models. We establish the equivalency of a family of lattice fermionic models written in the basis of the $t\ensuremath{-}J$ model with a Kitaev-like chain supporting free ${\mathbb{Z}}_{3}$ parafermionic modes at its ends. By using density matrix renormalization group calculations, we are able to characterize the topological phase transition and study the effect of local operators (doping and magnetic fields) on the spatial localization of the parafermionic modes and their stability. Moreover, we discuss the necessary ingredients towards realizing ${\mathbb{Z}}_{3}$ parafermions in strongly interacting electronic systems.

arXiv:2111.10147•Physical review. B./Physical review. B•May 13, 2022•5 citations
Non-Abelian defects that bind Majorana or parafermion zero modes are prominent in several topological quantum computation schemes. Underpinning their established understanding is the quantum Ising spin chain, which can be recast as a fermionic model or viewed as a standalone effective theory for the surface-code edge -- both of which harbor non-Abelian defects. We generalize these notions by deriving an effective Ising-like spin chain describing the edge of quantum-double topological order. Relating Majorana and parafermion modes to anyonic strings, we introduce quantum-double generalizations of non-Abelian defects. We develop a way to embed finite-group valued qunits into those valued in continuous groups. Using this embedding, we provide a continuum description of the spin chain and recast its non-interacting part as a quantum wire via addition of a Wess-Zumino-Novikov-Witten term and non-Abelian bosonization.
The structure of extrinsic defects in topologically ordered states of matter is host to a rich set of universal physics. Extrinsic defects in 2+12+12+1-dimensional topological states include linelike defects, such as boundaries between topologically distinct states, and pointlike defects, such as junctions between different line defects. Gapped boundaries in particular can themselves be topologically distinct, and the junctions between them can localize topologically protected zero modes, giving rise to topological ground-state degeneracies and projective non-Abelian statistics. In this paper, we develop a general theory of point defects and gapped line defects in 2+12+12+1-dimensional Abelian topological states. We derive a classification of topologically distinct gapped boundaries in terms of certain maximal subgroups of quasiparticles with mutually bosonic statistics, called Lagrangian subgroups. The junctions between different gapped boundaries provide a general classification of point defects in topological states, including as a special case the twist defects considered in previous works. We derive a general formula for the quantum dimension of these point defects and a general understanding of their localized ``parafermion'' zero modes and we define a notion of projective non-Abelian statistics for them. The critical phenomena between topologically distinct gapped boundaries can be understood in terms of a general class of quantum spin chains or, equivalently, ``generalized parafermion'' chains. This provides a way of realizing exotic 1+1D1+1\mathrm{D}1+1D generalized parafermion conformal field theories in condensed-matter systems.
Non-Abelian excitations are sought after because of the promise they hold for topological quantum computation. However, in spite of many proposals of systems in which they can occur intrinsically, observation has proved to be elusive. In this thesis, we study ways in which we can engineer such excitations by combining two parent Abelian theories, and as a result allow for defects which host non-Abelian zero modes. We first formulate the symmetries of the anyonic excitations of Abelian topological states. Then, we study properties of semiclassical point defects, called twist defects, which permute orbiting anyons by their symmetries. We see how to realize these defects at domain walls on the gapped edges of non-chiral fractional quantum Hall states. We have distinct gapped edge phases in one to one correspondence with the anyonic symmetries. Non-Abelian twist defects appear between different gapped phases. We study the twist defects for a variety of bosonic ADE fractional quantum spin Hall systems for which the anyonic symmetries turn out to be given by their Dynkin diagrams. We also look at superconducting heterostructures with fermionic quantum Hall states and show the presence of anyonic symmetries and twist defects which physically correspond to a fermion parity flip. This can result in Majorana bound states at such defects instead of more exotic parafermions as was believed before. This is because the presence of the superconductor necessitates the consideration of a larger bosonic topological order. We then investigate the twist defects further by promoting the anyonic symmetries from global to local. This deconfines the defects and results in non-Abelian topological states called twist liquids. Finally, we study the emergence of new topological order from two constituent systems driven by the condensation of a composite boson. This allows us to study a variety of systems with non-Abelian excitations.
Abstract A sign of topological order in a gapped one-dimensional quantum chain is the existence of edge zero modes. These occur in the Z 2-invariant Ising/Majorana chain, where they can be understood using free-fermion techniques. Here I discuss their presence in spin chains with Z n symmetry, and prove that for appropriate couplings they are exact, even in this strongly interacting system. These modes are naturally expressed in terms of parafermions, generalizations of fermions to the Z n case. I show that parafermionic edge zero modes do not occur in the usual ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic cases, but rather only when the interactions are chiral, so that spatial-parity and time-reversal symmetries are broken.
Defects between gapped boundaries provide a possible physical realization of projective non-Abelian braid statistics. A notable example is the projective Majorana/parafermion braid statistics of boundary defects in fractional quantum Hall/topological insulator and superconductor heterostructures. In this paper, we develop general theories to analyze the topological properties and projective braiding of boundary defects of topological phases of matter in two spatial dimensions. We present commuting Hamiltonians to realize defects between gapped boundaries in any (2+1)D(2+1)D(2+1)D untwisted Dijkgraaf-Witten theory, and use these to describe their topological properties such as their quantum dimension. By modeling the algebraic structure of boundary defects through multifusion categories, we establish a bulk-edge correspondence between certain boundary defects and symmetry defects in the bulk. Even though it is not clear how to physically braid the defects, this correspondence elucidates the projective braid statistics for many classes of boundary defects, both amongst themselves and with bulk anyons. Specifically, three such classes of importance to condensed matter physics/topological quantum computation are studied in detail: (1) a boundary defect version of Majorana and parafermion zero modes, (2) a similar version of genons in bilayer theories, and (3) boundary defects in D(S3)\mathfrak{D}({S}_{3})D(S3​).
Boundary conformal field theory is brought to bear on the study of topological insulating phases of non-Abelian anyonic chains. These phases display protected anyonic end modes. We consider spin-1/2 su(2)k{}_{k}k​ chains at any level kkk, focusing on the most prominent examples: the case k=2k=2k=2 describes Ising anyons (equivalent to Majorana fermions) and k=3k=3k=3 corresponds to Fibonacci anyons. The method we develop is quite general and rests on a deep connection between boundary conformal field theory and topological symmetry. This method tightly constrains the nature of the topological insulating phases of these chains for general kkk. Emergent anyons which arise at domain walls are shown to have the same braiding properties as the physical quasiparticles. This suggests a ``solid-state'' topological quantum computation scheme in which emergent anyons are braided by tuning the couplings of non-Abelian quasiparticles in a fixed network.
Parafermion modes are non-Abelian anyons which were introduced as ZN{\mathbb{Z}}_{N}ZN​ generalizations of Z2{\mathbb{Z}}_{2}Z2​ Majorana states. In particular, Z3{\mathbb{Z}}_{3}Z3​ parafermions can be used to produce Fibonacci anyons, laying a path towards universal topological quantum computation. Due to their fractional nature, much of the theoretical work on Z3{\mathbb{Z}}_{3}Z3​ parafermions has relied on bosonization methods or parafermionic quasiparticles. In this paper, we introduce a representation of Z3{\mathbb{Z}}_{3}Z3​ parafermions in terms of purely fermionic models. We establish the equivalency of a family of lattice fermionic models written in the basis of the $t\ensuremath{-}J$ model with a Kitaev-like chain supporting free Z3{\mathbb{Z}}_{3}Z3​ parafermionic modes at its ends. By using density matrix renormalization group calculations, we are able to characterize the topological phase transition and study the effect of local operators (doping and magnetic fields) on the spatial localization of the parafermionic modes and their stability. Moreover, we discuss the necessary ingredients towards realizing Z3{\mathbb{Z}}_{3}Z3​ parafermions in strongly interacting electronic systems.