Detecting Majorana Zero Modes via Strong Field Dynamics

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel optical spectroscopy method to detect topological phase transitions and Majorana zero modes in one-dimensional p-wave superconductors by analyzing their harmonic emission spectra.

Contribution

It proposes a new protocol using high harmonic spectroscopy to identify topological phases and Majorana modes through spectral features in strong field emissions.

Findings

Spectral features in harmonic emission indicate topological edge modes.

Order parameter derived from emission distinguishes topological from trivial phases.

Local probing confirms the protected nature of Majorana modes.

Abstract

We propose a protocol to detect topological phase transitions of one-dimensional $p$-wave superconductors from their harmonic emission spectrum in strong fields. Specifically, we identify spectral features due to radiating edge modes, which characterize the spectrum and the density of states in the topological phase, and which are absent in the trivial phase. These features allow us to define an order parameter, obtained from emission measurements, that unambiguously differentiates between the two phases. Local probing provides insight to the localized and topologically protected nature of the modes. The presented results establish that high harmonic spectroscopy can be used as a novel all-optical tool for the detection of Majorana zero modes.