Probing Majorana edge states with a flux qubit

TL;DR

This paper proposes a method to probe Majorana edge states in chiral p-wave superconductors by coupling them to a flux qubit, enabling measurement of their properties through qubit back-action.

Contribution

It introduces a novel coupling scheme between a flux qubit and Majorana edge modes modeled by Ising conformal field theory, providing a new way to study these exotic states.

Findings

Coupling of flux qubit to Majorana edge modes via Ising disorder field.

Measurement of back-action reveals properties of Majorana modes.

Potential for experimental detection of Majorana edge states.

Abstract

A pair of counter-propagating Majorana edge modes appears in chiral p-wave superconductors and in other superconducting systems belonging to the same universality class. These modes can be described by an Ising conformal field theory. We show how a superconducting flux qubit attached to such a system couples to the two chiral edge modes via the disorder field of the Ising model. Due to this coupling, measuring the back-action of the edge states on the qubit allows to probe the properties of Majorana edge modes.