Topologically enabled superconductivity

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that zero modes from topological instanton events can significantly enhance or enable superconductivity in one-dimensional topological triplet superconductors, with distinct effects based on anisotropy.

Contribution

It reveals how topological zero modes influence superconductivity, introducing a $ heta$ term that enables algebraic pairing and stabilizes superconductivity against fluctuations.

Findings

Algebraic charge-2e superconductivity in isotropic triplets due to a $ heta$ term.

Zero modes suppress phase slips, stabilizing superconductivity in anisotropic triplets.

Predictions of correlation functions and thermodynamics for topologically enhanced superconducting states.

Abstract

Majorana zero modes are a much sought-after consequence of one-dimensional topological superconductivity. Here, we show that, in turn, zero modes accompanying dynamical instanton events strongly enhance -- in some cases even enable -- superconductivity. We find that the dynamics of a one-dimensional topological triplet superconductor is governed by a $\theta$ term in the action. For isotropic triplets, this term enables algebraic charge-$2e$ superconductivity, which is destroyed by fluctuations in nontopological superconductors. For anisotropic triplets, zero modes suppress quantum phase slips and stabilize superconductivity over a large region of the phase diagram. We present predictions of correlation functions and thermodynamics for states of topologically enhanced superconductivity.