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Observation of majorana quantum critical behaviour in a resonant level coupled to a dissipative environment

Publication ,  Journal Article
Mebrahtu, HT; Borzenets, IV; Zheng, H; Bomze, YV; Smirnov, AI; Florens, S; Baranger, HU; Finkelstein, G
Published in: Nature Physics
January 1, 2013

A quantum phase transition is an abrupt change between two distinct ground states of a many-body system, driven by an external parameter. In the vicinity of the quantum critical point (QCP) where the transition occurs, a new phase may emerge that is determined by quantum fluctuations and is very different from either phase. In particular, a conducting system may exhibit non-Fermi-liquid behaviour. Although this scenario is well established theoretically, controllable experimental realizations are rare. Here, we experimentally investigate the nature of the QCP in a simple nanoscale system - a spin-polarized resonant level coupled to dissipative contacts. We fine-tune the system to the QCP, realized exactly on-resonance and when the coupling between the level and the two contacts is symmetric. Several anomalous transport scaling laws are demonstrated, including a striking non-Fermi-liquid scattering rate at the QCP, indicating fractionalization of the resonant level into two Majorana quasiparticles. © 2013 Macmillan Publishers Limited.

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Published In

Nature Physics

DOI

EISSN

1745-2481

ISSN

1745-2473

Publication Date

January 1, 2013

Volume

9

Issue

11

Start / End Page

732 / 737

Related Subject Headings

  • Fluids & Plasmas
  • 51 Physical sciences
  • 49 Mathematical sciences
  • 02 Physical Sciences
  • 01 Mathematical Sciences
 

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Mebrahtu, H. T., Borzenets, I. V., Zheng, H., Bomze, Y. V., Smirnov, A. I., Florens, S., … Finkelstein, G. (2013). Observation of majorana quantum critical behaviour in a resonant level coupled to a dissipative environment. Nature Physics, 9(11), 732–737. https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys2735
Mebrahtu, H. T., I. V. Borzenets, H. Zheng, Y. V. Bomze, A. I. Smirnov, S. Florens, H. U. Baranger, and G. Finkelstein. “Observation of majorana quantum critical behaviour in a resonant level coupled to a dissipative environment.” Nature Physics 9, no. 11 (January 1, 2013): 732–37. https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys2735.
Mebrahtu HT, Borzenets IV, Zheng H, Bomze YV, Smirnov AI, Florens S, et al. Observation of majorana quantum critical behaviour in a resonant level coupled to a dissipative environment. Nature Physics. 2013 Jan 1;9(11):732–7.
Mebrahtu, H. T., et al. “Observation of majorana quantum critical behaviour in a resonant level coupled to a dissipative environment.” Nature Physics, vol. 9, no. 11, Jan. 2013, pp. 732–37. Scopus, doi:10.1038/nphys2735.
Mebrahtu HT, Borzenets IV, Zheng H, Bomze YV, Smirnov AI, Florens S, Baranger HU, Finkelstein G. Observation of majorana quantum critical behaviour in a resonant level coupled to a dissipative environment. Nature Physics. 2013 Jan 1;9(11):732–737.

Published In

Nature Physics

DOI

EISSN

1745-2481

ISSN

1745-2473

Publication Date

January 1, 2013

Volume

9

Issue

11

Start / End Page

732 / 737

Related Subject Headings

  • Fluids & Plasmas
  • 51 Physical sciences
  • 49 Mathematical sciences
  • 02 Physical Sciences
  • 01 Mathematical Sciences