Dynamic response functions, helical gaps, and fractional charges in quantum wires

ORAL

Abstract

We show how experimentally accessible dynamic response functions can discriminate between helical gaps due to magnetic field, and helical gaps driven by electron-electron interactions (``umklapp gaps’’). The latter are interesting since they feature gapped quasiparticles of fractional charge $e/2$, and - when coupled to a standard superconductor - an 8$\pi$-Josephson effect and topological zero energy states bound to interfaces.

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Authors

  • Tobias Meng

    Institut fuer Theoretische Physik, Technische Universitaet Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany

  • Christopher Pedder

    Physics and Materials Science Research Unit, University of Luxembourg, L-1511 Luxembourg, University of Luxembourg

  • Rakesh P. Tiwari

    Department of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland

  • Thomas Schmidt

    Physics and Materials Science Research Unit, University of Luxembourg, L-1511 Luxembourg, University of Luxembourg