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The emergence of topological order is one of the most intriguing phenomena in quantum many-body physics and one of possibly far reaching relevance - topological quantum matter is increasingly appreciated as possible medium for quantum computation purposes. In this talk, I will discuss the stability of topological quantum matter when considering the effects of interactions and disorder on the collective quantum state formed by a set of topological excitations, so-called anyons. In particular, I will discuss the formation of a thermal metal of Majorana fermions in a two-dimensional system of interacting non-Abelian anyons in the presence of moderate disorder. This bulk metallic phase occurs for various proposed systems supporting Majorana fermion zero modes when disorder induces the random pinning of a finite density of vortices. This includes all two-dimensional topological superconductors in so-called symmetry class D. A distinct experimental signature of the thermal metal phase is the presence of bulk heat transport down to zero temperature. I will finish by discussing implications for topological quantum computing proposals. 

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Prof. Simon Trebst, University of Cologne
Seminarraum Theoretische Physik
Contact: not specified