Tunneling between a topological superconductor and a Luttinger liquid

Yu-Wen Lee and Yu-Li Lee
Phys. Rev. B 89, 125417 – Published 13 March 2014

Abstract

We study the quantum point contact between the topological superconductor and the helical Luttinger liquid. The effects of the electron-electron interactions in the helical Luttinger liquid on the low-energy physics of this system are analyzed by the renormalization group. Among the various couplings at the point contact which arises from the tunneling via the Majorana edge channel, the induced backscattering in the helical Luttinger liquid is the most relevant for repulsive interactions. Hence, at low temperatures, the helical Luttinger liquid is effectively cut into two separated half wires. As a result, the low-temperature physics is described by a fixed point consisting of two leads coupled to the topological superconductor, and the electrical transport properties through the point contact at low temperature and low bias are dominated by the tunneling via the Majorana edge channel. We compute the temperature dependence of the zero-bias tunneling conductance and study the full counting statistics for the tunneling current at zero temperature.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 22 January 2014
  • Revised 20 February 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.89.125417

©2014 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Yu-Wen Lee*

  • Department of Physics, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China

Yu-Li Lee

  • Department of Physics, National Changhua University of Education, Changhua, Taiwan, Republic of China

  • *ywlee@thu.edu.tw
  • yllee@cc.ncue.edu.tw

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 89, Iss. 12 — 15 March 2014

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review B

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×