Majorana fermions as quanta of a superfluid vacuum

TL;DR

This paper discusses the thermodynamic signatures of Majorana fermions on the surface of a 3D topological superfluid, highlighting their potential detection in superfluid helium-3 B phase.

Contribution

It provides an early theoretical perspective on Majorana fermions as quanta of a superfluid vacuum, relevant to recent experimental searches.

Findings

Identifies thermodynamic signatures of Majorana fermions

Suggests experimental detection methods in superfluid helium-3 B

Connects Majorana fermions to superfluid vacuum properties

Abstract

This short article on a thermodynamic signature of Majorana fermions confined on the surface of a 3D topological superfluid in the presence of a moving condensate was circulated to a limited audience in Fall 2013. Since recent experiments are looking at possible signatures of a gas of Majorana excitations confined in two dimensions on the surface of superfluid $^3$He-B it seems timely to post this earlier perspective to arXiv.