Spinon Majorana fermions

TL;DR

This paper proposes a theoretical model where topological insulators coupled with frustrated magnets induce spinon-based Majorana fermions, revealing new topological states and spin transport phenomena distinct from conventional superconducting systems.

Contribution

It introduces a novel mechanism for realizing Majorana fermions in frustrated magnets via topological proximity effect, expanding the understanding of topological states in magnetic systems.

Findings

Spin textures are inherited by spinons in frustrated magnets.

Majorana fermions are formed from spinons and anti-spinons, not electrons and holes.

The model predicts unique spin transport properties associated with these Majorana states.

Abstract

A realization of Majorana fermions is proposed in the frustrated magnets via the topological proximity effect. Specifically, we consider a theoretical model, where a topological insulator is coupled to a frustrated magnetic material through the spin exchange interaction. Using the renormalization group-based self-consistent mean-field approach, and calculating the self-energy correction due to the topological insulator, we find that the spin texture and the spin-momentum locking of the Dirac cone will be inherited by the spinons in the nearby frustrated magnets. This leads to a particular topological state of matter that supports the Majorana excitations. Unlike the conventional realization in SC systems, these Majorana fermions are the combination of spinons and anti-spinons, rather than electrons and holes. They can participate in the transport of spinons, leading to nontrivial properties of the spin transport.