Non-Abelian statistics and topological quantum information processing in 1D wire networks

Jason Alicea, Yuval Oreg, Gil Refael, Oppen, Felix Von Oppen, Matthew P. A. Fisher

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The synthesis of a quantum computer remains an ongoing challenge in modern physics. Whereas decoherence stymies most approaches, topological quantum computation schemes evade decoherence at the hardware level by storing quantum information non-locally. Here we establish that a key operation-braiding of non-Abelian anyons-can be implemented using one-dimensional semiconducting wires. Such wires can be driven into a topological phase supporting long-sought particles known as Majorana fermions that can encode topological qubits. We show that in wire networks, Majorana fermions can be meaningfully braided by simply adjusting gate voltages, and that they exhibit non-Abelian statistics like vortices in a p+ip superconductor. We propose experimental set-ups that enable probing of the Majorana fusion rules and the efficient exchange of arbitrary numbers of Majorana fermions. This work should open a new direction in topological quantum computation that benefits from physical transparency and experimental feasibility.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)412-417
Number of pages6
JournalNature Physics
Volume7
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2011

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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