Universit di Genova

Dipartimento di Fisica

CNR-SPIN

Crystallization of fractional
quasiparticles in a quasi-helical dot
Fabio Cavaliere
(Dipartimento di Fisica - Universit di Genova)
Filippo Maria Gambetta (DIFI - Genova)
Simone Barbarino (SNS - Pisa)
Maura Sassetti (DIFI - Genova)

Standard quantum wire

Standard quantum wire

Left-movers

Right-movers

Spin-orbit quantum wire

[e.g. InAs, Y. Sidor et al., Phys. Rev. B 75, 125120 (2007); S. Csonka et al., Nano Lett. 8, 3932 (2008)]

Spin-orbit quantum wire

[e.g. InAs, Y. Sidor et al., Phys. Rev. B 75, 125120 (2007); S. Csonka et al., Nano Lett. 8, 3932 (2008)]

Quasi-helical quantum wire

P. Streda et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 256601 (2003);

T. Meng et al., PRB 88, 035437 (2013);
Left-movers F.M.Gambetta
Right-movers
et al., PRB 91, 235421 (2015)

Electron interactions

T. Meng et al., PRB 88, 035437 (2013)

Electron interactions

1. The main gap is enhanced

T. Meng et al., PRB 88, 035437 (2013)

Electron interactions

C. L. Kane et al., PRL 88, 036401 (2002); J. C. Y. Teo et al., PRB 89, 085101 (2014);
Y. Oreg et al., PRB 89, 115402 (2014)

Electron interactions

At special fillings, dressed Zeeman interactions are resonant

C. L. Kane et al., PRL 88, 036401 (2002); J. C. Y. Teo et al., PRB 89, 085101 (2014);
Y. Oreg et al., PRB 89, 115402 (2014)

Electron interactions II

2. For strong enough electron interactions new gaps open,

and fractional QP excitations appear
Filling factor w.r.t
the main gap!
C. L. Kane et al., PRL 88, 036401 (2002); J. C. Y. Teo et al., PRB 89, 085101 (2014);
Y. Oreg et al., PRB 89, 115402 (2014)

Ground-state signatures?
Fractional QP excitations induce peculiar effects on
non-equilibrium properties (current, shot noise,)
Y. Oreg et al., PRB 89, 115402 (2014) ; T. Meng et al., PRB 89, 045111 (2014);
D. Rainis et al., PRL 112, 196803 (2013); E. Cornfeld et al., PRB 91, 115427 (2014)

Ground-state signatures?
Fractional QP excitations induce peculiar effects on
non-equilibrium properties (current, shot noise,)
Y. Oreg et al., PRB 89, 115402 (2014) ; T. Meng et al., PRB 89, 045111 (2014);
D. Rainis et al., PRL 112, 196803 (2013); E. Cornfeld et al., PRB 91, 115427 (2014)

Can such fractional quasiparticles be detected in

equilibrium, ground-state properties?
F. Cavaliere et al., submitted (2015)

Ground-state signatures?
Fractional QP excitations induce peculiar effects on
non-equilibrium properties (current, shot noise,)
Y. Oreg et al., PRB 89, 115402 (2014) ; T. Meng et al., PRB 89, 045111 (2014);
D. Rainis et al., PRL 112, 196803 (2013); E. Cornfeld et al., PRB 91, 115427 (2014)

Can such fractional quasiparticles be detected in

equilibrium, ground-state properties?
F. Cavaliere et al., submitted (2015)

Study the particle density of a quasi-helical quantum dot!

Normal 1D quantum dots

(a quick reminder!)

Weak interactions: Friedel oscillations

Normal 1D quantum dots

(a quick reminder!)

Strong interactions: Wigner molecule!

Quasi-helical quantum dot

(a Luttinger liquid model)

open boundaries

Quasi-helical quantum dot

(a Luttinger liquid model)

open boundaries

Quasi-helical quantum dot

(a Luttinger liquid model)

open boundaries

Quasi-helical quantum dot

The fields obey the Hamiltonian

Quasi-helical quantum dot

The fields obey the Hamiltonian

Kinetic energy and forward interactions

Quasi-helical quantum dot

The fields obey the Hamiltonian

Kinetic energy and forward interactions

Quasi-helical quantum dot

The fields obey the Hamiltonian

Kinetic energy and forward interactions

Dressed Zeeman interaction at

Quasi-helical quantum dot

The fields obey the Hamiltonian

Kinetic energy and forward interactions

Dressed Zeeman interaction at

Sine-Gordon model

One can decompose

Sine-Gordon model

One can decompose

Sine-Gordon model
for strong interactions
The massive field pins

Electron density
Ground-state (T=0, N electrons) average (large mass!)

Electron density
Ground-state (T=0, N electrons) average (large mass!)

Electron density
Ground-state (T=0, N electrons) average (large mass!)

Electron density
Ground-state (T=0, N electrons) average (large mass!)

Density oscillates with

peaks!

Fractional quasiparticles

F. Cavaliere et al., arXiv:1509.03965 (2015)

Fractional quasiparticles

F. Cavaliere et al., arXiv:1509.03965 (2015)

Fractional quasiparticles

F. Cavaliere et al., arXiv:1509.03965 (2015)

Fractional quasiparticles

Wigner molecule of fractional quasiparticles?

F. Cavaliere et al., arXiv:1509.03965 (2015)

Conclusions
A Wigner crystal of fractional quasiparticles in the GS

F. Cavaliere et al., arXiv:1509.03965 (2015)

Conclusions
A Wigner crystal of fractional quasiparticles in the GS

What is the spin pattern of such crystal?

Finite mass corrections?

F. Cavaliere et al., arXiv:1509.03965 (2015)