Majorana Zero Modes Emulated in a Magnetic Molecule Chain

TL;DR

This paper proposes using magnetic molecule chains, specifically a cobalt trimer, as a new platform to emulate Majorana zero modes, with theoretical predictions and experimental signatures outlined.

Contribution

It introduces molecular magnets as a novel platform for Majorana zero modes and identifies a cobalt trimer as a promising candidate through quantum chemistry calculations.

Findings

Cobalt trimer can host Majorana zero modes

Effective spin-1/2 chain realized in the molecule

EPR response can serve as an experimental signature

Abstract

We propose molecular magnets as a platform to emulate Majorana zero modes (MZMs). Using a quantum chemistry approach, we identify several candidates and predict a Co trimer to have sufficient properties to host MZMs. Parameters of the quantum spin Hamiltonian describing the three coupled magnetic centers are extracted from ab initio calculations. The low-energy subspace of this material realizes an effective anisotropic spin-1/2 chain. We show the presence of MZMs in this system and find that their response to electronic paramagnetic resonance provides an experimentally realizable signature.