Detecting Majorana modes by readout of poisoning-induced parity flips

TL;DR

This paper proposes a method to detect Majorana modes by monitoring parity flips induced by poisoning, using a quantum-dot readout system and analyzing the system's dynamics to distinguish Majorana from Andreev states.

Contribution

It introduces a low-energy model for edge states in a two-arm device and analyzes parity-to-charge conversion with a quantum-jump approach to identify Majorana modes.

Findings

Signal and noise ratio can differentiate Majorana from Andreev bound states.

The model enables parity readout through a quantum-dot sensor.

Analysis provides a way to confirm Majorana modes experimentally.

Abstract

Reading out the parity degree of freedom of Majorana bound states is key to demonstrating their nonabelian exchange properties. Here, we present a low-energy model describing localized edge states in a two-arm device. We study parity-to-charge conversion based on coupling the superconductor bound states to a quantum dot whose charge is read out by a sensor. The dynamics of the system, including the readout device, is analyzed in full using a quantum-jump approach. We show how the resulting signal and noise ratio differentiates between local Majorana and Andreev bound states.