Observation of Majorana Quantum Critical Behavior in a Resonant Level Coupled to a Dissipative Environment

TL;DR

This paper reports the experimental observation of Majorana quantum critical behavior in a resonant level system, revealing non-Fermi liquid properties and Majorana mode splitting near a quantum critical point.

Contribution

It demonstrates the realization of a Majorana quantum critical point in a dissipative resonant level, providing new insights into Majorana physics and strong correlation effects.

Findings

Observation of Majorana mode splitting at the QCP

Detection of non-Fermi liquid scattering rates

Experimental validation of theoretical scaling laws

Abstract

We investigate experimentally an exotic state of electronic matter obtained by fine-tuning to a quantum critical point (QCP), realized in a spin-polarized resonant level coupled to strongly dissipative electrodes. Several transport scaling laws near and far from equilibrium are measured, and then accounted for theoretically. Our analysis reveals a splitting of the resonant level into two quasi-independent Majorana modes, one strongly hybridized to the leads, and the other tightly bound to the quantum dot. Residual interactions involving these Majorana fermions result in the observation of a striking quasi-linear non-Fermi liquid scattering rate at the QCP. Our devices constitute a viable alternative to topological superconductors as a platform for studying strong correlation effects within Majorana physics.