Edge quantum criticality and emergent supersymmetry in topological phases

TL;DR

This paper provides numerical evidence that supersymmetry, a fundamental symmetry in physics, can emerge at the edge of a 2D topological superconductor during a quantum critical transition, with fermions and bosons acquiring equal masses.

Contribution

It demonstrates, through advanced quantum Monte Carlo simulations, the emergence of N=1 supersymmetry at the edge quantum critical point of an interacting 2D topological superconductor, a novel finding in condensed matter physics.

Findings

Evidence of emergent N=1 SUSY at the edge quantum critical point

Edge Majorana fermion and bosonic superpartner acquire identical masses

First observation of fermion-boson mass equality indicating emergent SUSY

Abstract

Proposed as a fundamental symmetry describing our universe, spacetime supersymmetry (SUSY) has not been discovered yet in nature. Nonetheless, it has been predicted that SUSY may emerge in low-energy physics of quantum materials such as topological superconductors and Weyl semimetals. Here, by performing state-of-the-art sign-problem-free Majorana quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) simulations of an interacting 2D topological superconductor, we show convincing evidences that the N=1 SUSY emerges at its edge quantum critical point (EQCP) while its bulk remains gapped and topologically nontrivial. Remarkably, near the EQCP, we find that the edge Majorana fermion acquires a mass which is identical with that of its bosonic superpartner. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first observation that fermions and bosons have equal dynamically-generated masses, a hallmark of emergent SUSY. We further discuss experimental signatures of such EQCP and the associated edge SUSY.