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Wonderful journey of quantum physics: How does the Mariorana zero mode appear in superconducts?
Majorana fermions, derived from a theory proposed by Italian physicist Ettore Majorana in 1937, are a type of fermion that is its own antiparticle. In contrast, ordinary Dirac fermions are not their own antiparticles. Majorana fermions are extremely special among the particles in the standard model. Except for neutrinos, all other particles can be regarded as Dirac fermions. As for the nature of neutrinos, it has not yet been determined. It may be Majorana fermions or Dirac fermions.
The concept of Majorana fermions also has its extension in condensed matter physics, arising from the collective motion of tightly bound states, which are often called Majorana zero modes.
In superconductors, the emergence of Majorana zero modes is due to the unique electron-hole symmetry of superconductors. This allows quasiparticles in superconducting materials to act as Majorana fermions, providing an experimental platform to explore this phenomenon. The existence of these zero modes is not only a wonderful theoretical idea, but may also play an important role in the future of quantum computing.
Majorana's core theory
The Majorana concept originated from the existence of electrically neutral spin-1/2 particles that can be described by a true-valued wave equation. The revelation of the Majorana equations allowed these particles to be viewed essentially as their own antiparticles, established through the complex conjugate relationship. Unlike Dirac fermions, the creation and annihilation operators of Majorana fermions are the same, a property that provides new insights into understanding their behavior.
Majorana zero modes are characterized by their non-Abelian statistical properties, which makes it possible to perform logical operations on these modes in quantum computing.
For example, in some superconducting materials, Majorana zero modes may be trapped at interfaces or defects, forming so-called Majorana bound states. The statistical behavior of these bound states is very different from that of ordinary fermions, which provides new opportunities to explore the possibilities of quantum computing experimentally.
Experimental progress
As the scientific community continues to deepen its research on Majorana zero modes, more and more experimental results provide strong support. In 2008, a major study predicted that Majorana bound states could appear at the interface between topological insulators and superconductors. Subsequently, more and more experiments have found signs of Majorana zero modes, including an experiment at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands in 2012, which observed Majorana binding at both ends under certain conditions. The conductivity peak caused by the state.
Scientists used low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy technology to observe the characteristic signals of Majorana bound states, which laid the foundation for future quantum computing.
However, as the experiments progressed, scholars also pointed out that some pseudo-Majorana states may be mimicking phenomena, so continued testing and confirmation are crucial. For example, research conducted at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2018 observed the first signs of Majorana particles in pure matter, but subsequent studies have shown that other electronic states can exhibit similar quantized features.
Application of Majorana in quantum computing
Majorana bound states have potential applications, especially in quantum error correction. By creating so-called «twist defects», these unpaired Majorana modes are able to store and process quantum information. This technology is close to the chain operation in quantum computing and can effectively suppress errors in the quantum computing process.
What is most striking is that Majorana's existence not only breaks through the framework of traditional physics, but is also the future hope of frontier computing. Further research may reveal its deeper physical routines and application potential.
The discovery and application of Majorana zero modes are redefining our understanding of particle physics and condensed matter physics. With future leaps in experimental technology and deepening of theoretical research, we may be able to further unravel the mysteries of the quantum world. Behind all this, does it imply that there are deeper physical laws waiting for us to explore?
