Bulk-edge coupling in the non-abelian $\nu=5/2$ quantum Hall interferometer

TL;DR

This paper investigates how bulk-edge coupling via Majorana fermion tunneling affects interference patterns in a quantum Hall interferometer, revealing that strong coupling can restore interference signals degraded at weak coupling.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of bulk-edge Majorana fermion tunneling effects on interference in a non-abelian quantum Hall interferometer, highlighting the transition from degraded to restored interference.

Findings

Weak coupling degrades interference signals

Strong coupling effectively absorbs bulk quasiparticles

Interference can be fully restored at strong coupling

Abstract

Recent schemes for experimentally probing non-abelian statistics in the quantum Hall effect are based on geometries where current-carrying quasiparticles flow along edges that encircle bulk quasiparticles, which are localized. Here we consider one such scheme, the Fabry-Perot interferometer, and analyze how its interference patterns are affected by a coupling that allows tunneling of neutral Majorana fermions between the bulk and edge. While at weak coupling this tunneling degrades the interference signal, we find that at strong coupling, the bulk quasiparticle becomes essentially absorbed by the edge and the intereference signal is fully restored.