Mirror Majorana zero modes in spinful superconductors/superfluids -Non-Abelian braiding of integer quantum vortices-

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that integer quantum vortices in spinful superconductors can host topologically stable Majorana zero modes due to mirror symmetry, enabling non-Abelian braiding without half quantum vortices.

Contribution

It reveals a new mechanism for Majorana zero modes in spinful superconductors, challenging the belief that only half quantum vortices can host such states.

Findings

Integer vortices can host Majorana zero modes due to mirror symmetry.

Mirror symmetry protects the topological stability of Majorana fermions.

Majorana modes in this setting can exhibit non-Abelian braiding.

Abstract

It has been widely believed that half quantum vortices are indispensable to realize topological stable Majorana zero modes and non-Abelian anyons in spinful superconductors/superfluids. Contrary to this wisdom, we here demonstrate that integer quantum vortices in spinful superconductors can host topologically stable Majorana zero modes because of the mirror symmetry. The symmetry protected Majorana fermions may exhibit non-Abelian anyon braiding.