In a groundbreaking discovery, a collaborative research team led by Prof. Junwei Liu from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), along with Prof. Jinfeng Jia and Prof. Yaoyi Li from Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), has identified the world’s first multiple Majorana zero modes (MZMs) in a single vortex of the superconducting topological crystalline insulator SnTe. This remarkable finding, published in Nature, showcases the team’s innovative approach in utilizing crystal symmetry to control the coupling between MZMs, offering new possibilities in the field of quantum computing.
MZMs are zero-energy quasiparticles in superconductors that exhibit non-Abelian statistics, setting them apart from ordinary particles like electrons or photons. This unique property makes MZMs resilient to local disturbances, making them an ideal candidate for fault-tolerant quantum computation. Despite previous challenges in manipulating MZMs due to their spatial separation, the research team’s breakthrough leverages crystal symmetry to overcome these obstacles.
The collaborative effort between the theoretical group at HKUST and the experimental group at SJTU marks a significant advancement in the field. By demonstrating the existence of multiple MZMs within a single vortex of SnTe, the team showcases the potential for controlled manipulation without the need for physical movement or strong magnetic fields. This novel approach, combined with the team’s expertise in experimental techniques and theoretical simulations, opens up new possibilities for exploring the properties of vortex systems.
Through experimental observations and numerical simulations, the team was able to confirm the presence of crystal-symmetry-protected MZMs in SnTe/Pb heterostructures. This groundbreaking research not only paves the way for the detection and manipulation of multiple MZMs but also holds promise for the experimental validation of non-Abelian statistics in quantum systems.
The collaborative research, spearheaded by Prof. Junwei Liu, Prof. Yaoyi Li, and Prof. Jinfeng Jia, with contributions from Chun Yu Wan, Dr. Tengteng Liu, and Dr. Hao Yang, represents a significant step forward in the quest for fault-tolerant quantum computers. By harnessing the power of crystal symmetry, the team has unlocked new avenues for exploring topological qubits and quantum gates based on multiple MZMs.