Topological superconductors as nonrelativistic limits of Jackiw-Rossi and Jackiw-Rebbi models

• Main Authors: Nishida, Yusuke (Contributor), Santos, Luiz (Author), Chamon, Claudio (Author)
• Other Authors: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Center for Theoretical Physics (Contributor), Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Physics (Contributor)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Physical Society, 2011-01-20T14:47:56Z.
• Subjects: Article
• Online Access: Get fulltext

We argue that the nonrelativistic Hamiltonian of px+ipy superconductor in two dimensions can be derived from the relativistic Jackiw-Rossi model by taking the limit of large Zeeman magnetic field and chemical potential. In particular, the existence of a fermion zero mode bound to a vortex in the px+ipy superconductor can be understood as a remnant of that in the Jackiw-Rossi model. In three dimensions, the nonrelativistic limit of the Jackiw-Rebbi model leads to a "p+is" superconductor in which spin-triplet p-wave and spin-singlet s-wave pairings coexist. The resulting Hamiltonian supports a fermion zero mode when the pairing gaps form a hedgehoglike structure. Our findings provide a unified view of fermion zero modes in relativistic (Dirac-type) and nonrelativistic (Schrödinger-type) superconductors.
United States. Dept. of Energy (DE-FG02-94ER40818)
United States. Dept. of Energy (DEF-06ER46316)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Physics. Pappalardo Program