Skyrmions in the Moore-Read state at nu=5/2

TL;DR

This paper investigates the formation of skyrmions in the non-abelian Moore-Read state at filling factor 5/2, highlighting how low Zeeman energy and disorder promote skyrmion formation, affecting the ground state and transport properties.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of skyrmions in the nu=5/2 Moore-Read state considering spin depolarization and disorder effects, which was not previously explored.

Findings

Skyrmions of charge e/2 are energetically favorable at low Zeeman energy.

Disorder enhances skyrmion formation, leading to depolarized ground states.

Skyrmion formation impacts activated transport in the system.

Abstract

We study charged excitations of the non-abelian Moore-Read liquid at filling factor nu=5/2, allowing for spin depolarization. Using a combination of numerical studies, and taking account of non-zero well widths, we find that at sufficiently low Zeeman energy it is energetically favourable for charge e/4 quasiholes to bind into "skyrmions" of charge e/2. We show that skyrmion formation is further promoted by disorder, and argue that this can lead to a depolarized nu=5/2 ground state in realistic experimental situations. We comment on the consequences for the activated transport.