English

Testing edge chirality with a three-path fractional quantum Hall interferometer

Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics 2026-07-27 v1 Quantum Physics

Abstract

We propose an average-current interferometer for the directional causal response of fractional quantum Hall edges. Three coherent quantum point contacts (QPCs) form a flux-enclosing loop, so the leading Aharonov-Bohm harmonic is cubic in tunneling. Interference between a direct transfer and a coherent two-step path resolves downstream and upstream propagation. For a local Laughlin edge at ν=1/m\nu=1/m, the upstream coefficient vanishes exactly, while the downstream amplitude scales as E3ν2E^{3\nu-2}. A weak finite-range nonlocal density interaction spanning the tunneling points activates the upstream coefficient without creating an upstream mode. At low temperature and unresolved delay, its amplitude scales as E2ν1E^{2\nu-1} and its aligned phase relative to the downstream reference is π(1ν)/2+χa-\pi(1-\nu)/2+\chi_a modulo 2π2\pi, with χa=0\chi_a=0 or π\pi. Opposite cyclic voltage orderings isolate the two directions, while a folded same-filling Laughlin edge with a neutral weak link realizes a sign-tunable bridge. For a general Abelian edge, the device probes the directional content of the selected tunneling vertex. If δ±\delta_\pm are its downstream and upstream weights, its nonzero directional amplitudes scale as E3Δ2E^{3\Delta_\ell-2}, with Δ=δ++δ\Delta_\ell=\delta_++\delta_-, and obey Au/Ad=sin(πδ)/sin(πδ+)A^u_\ell/A^d_\ell=|\sin(\pi\delta_-)/\sin(\pi\delta_+)|. When both are nonzero, positive-flux alignment gives, after removal of a known fixed sign, the relative phase πΔ=2πh\pi\Delta_\ell=2\pi h_\ell. In the same-vertex coherent unresolved-flight regime, the scaling dimension and directional ratio determine the exchange angle θ=π(δ+δ)\theta_\ell=\pi(\delta_+-\delta_-) modulo 2π2\pi. The Aharonov-Bohm flux frequency additionally gives the charge, enabling separate extraction of quasiparticle charge, scaling dimension, and exchange angle.

Cite

@article{arxiv.2607.24451,
  title  = {Testing edge chirality with a three-path fractional quantum Hall interferometer},
  author = {Eugene V. Sukhorukov},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2607.24451},
  year   = {2026}
}