Direct observation of anyonic braiding statistics

Journal Article · Wed Sep 02 20:00:00 EDT 2020 · Nature Physics

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-020-1019-1 · OSTI ID:1656816

Nakamura, James ^[1]; Liang, Shuang ^[2]; Gardner, Geoffrey C.  ^[2]; Manfra, Michael J.  ^[2]

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1. Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN (United States); Purdue University
2. Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN (United States)

Anyons are quasiparticles that, unlike fermions and bosons, show fractional statistics when two of them are exchanged. Here, we report experimental observation of anyonic braiding statisticsfor the ν 1/3 fractional quantum Hall state using a device that is equivalent to a Fabry-Perot interferometer. Strong Aharonov-Bohm interference of the edge mode is punctuated by discrete phase slips that indicate an anyonic phase of $$\theta$$_anyon = 2π/3. Here, our results are consistent with a recent theory for an interferometer operated in a regime in which device charging energy is small compared to the energy of formation of charged quasiparticles, indicating that we have observed anyonic braiding.

• Research Organization: Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0020138
• OSTI ID: 1656816
• Journal Information: Nature Physics, Journal Name: Nature Physics Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 16; ISSN 1745-2473
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group (NPG)Copyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English