English

Majorana-Like Modes of Light in a One-Dimensional Array of Nonlinear Cavities

Quantum Gases 2013-03-07 v2 Quantum Physics

Abstract

The search for Majorana fermions in p-wave paired fermionic systems has recently moved to the forefront of condensed-matter research. Here we propose an alternative route and show theoretically that Majorana-like modes can be realized and probed in a driven-dissipative system of strongly correlated photons consisting of a chain of tunnel-coupled cavities, where p-wave pairing effectively arises from the interplay between strong on-site interactions and two-photon parametric driving. The nonlocal nature of these exotic modes could be demonstrated through cross-correlation measurements carried out at the ends of the chain---revealing a strong photon bunching signature---and their non-Abelian properties could be simulated through tunnel-braid operations.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1204.1238,
  title  = {Majorana-Like Modes of Light in a One-Dimensional Array of Nonlinear Cavities},
  author = {C. -E. Bardyn and A. Imamoglu},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1204.1238},
  year   = {2013}
}

Comments

5 pages, 2 figures; with Supplemental Material (12 pages)