Vacancy Spectroscopy of Non-Abelian Kitaev Spin Liquids

Kao, Wen-Han; Perkins, Natalia B.; Halász, Gábor B.

doi:10.1103/physrevlett.132.136503

Title: Vacancy Spectroscopy of Non-Abelian Kitaev Spin Liquids

Journal Article · 29 March 2024 · Physical Review Letters

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.132.136503 · OSTI ID:2373007

^[1];

^[2]

Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (United States)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Quantum Science Center (QSC)

Spin vacancies in the non-Abelian Kitaev spin liquid are known to harbor Majorana zero modes, potentially enabling topological quantum computing at elevated temperatures. Here, we study the spectroscopic signatures of such Majorana zero modes in a scanning tunneling setup where a non-Abelian Kitaev spin liquid with a finite density of spin vacancies forms a tunneling barrier between a tip and a substrate. In this study, our key result is a well-defined peak close to zero bias voltage in the derivative of the tunneling conductance whose voltage and intensity both increase with the density of vacancies. This “quasi-zero-voltage peak” is identified as the closest analog of the zero-voltage peak observed in topological superconductors that additionally reflects the fractionalized nature of spin-liquid-based Majorana zero modes. We further highlight a single-fermion Van Hove singularity at a higher voltage that reveals the energy scale of the emergent Majorana fermions in the Kitaev spin liquid. Our proposed signatures are within reach of current experiments on the candidate material α-RuCl₃.

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Research Organization:: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC); National Science Foundation (NSF)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-00OR22725

OSTI ID:: 2373007

Journal Information:: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 13 Vol. 132; ISSN 0031-9007

Publisher:: American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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