Anyonic analogue of optical Mach-Zehnder interferometer

TL;DR

This paper proposes a novel anyonic interferometry setup analogous to an optical Mach-Zehnder interferometer, enabling clearer detection of fractional statistics with exact solutions for current and noise.

Contribution

It introduces a new interferometry geometry that simplifies interpretation of anyonic phases and suppresses bulk-edge coupling effects, with exact solutions for various conditions.

Findings

Provides exact solutions for electric current and noise in the proposed setup.

Demonstrates the setup's advantages over existing interferometers in clarity and stability.

Analyzes thermal interferometry at zero voltage bias.

Abstract

Anyonic interferometry is a direct probe of fractional statistics. We propose an interferometry geometry that parallels an optical Mach-Zehnder interferometer and offers several advantages over existing interferometry schemes. In contrast to the currently studied electronic Mach-Zehnder interferometer, our setup has no drain inside the device so that the trapped topological charge is time-independent. In contrast to electronic Fabry-P\'erot interferometry, anyons cannot go around the device more than once. Thus, the interference signal has a straightforward interpretation in terms of anyonic statistical phases. The proposed geometry suppresses the undesirable effects of bulk-edge coupling. Moreover, the setup allows for simple exact solutions for the electric current and noise for an arbitrary quasiparticle tunneling strength in a broad range of conditions. The structure of the solutions is similar to that for non-interacting electrons but reflects fractional charge and statistics. We present results for electric current and noise in Jain states and address thermal interferometry at zero voltage bias.