Interaction-Induced Fractionalization and Topological Superconductivity in the Polar Molecules Anisotropic t-J Model

Area of Science:

• Condensed Matter Physics
• Quantum Materials
• Ultracold Atomic Gases

Background:

• Antiferromagnetic interactions and charge carrier motion are crucial in understanding complex quantum phases.
• Topological superconductivity offers potential for fault-tolerant quantum computing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the emergence of topological superconductivity from the interplay of antiferromagnetism and hole motion.
• To explore quantum phase transitions in a one-dimensional anisotropic t-J model.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the one-dimensional anisotropic t-J model.
• Proposed experimental realization using ultracold polar molecules in an optical lattice.
• Analyzed quantum phases as a function of anisotropy strength.

Main Results:

• Identified a topological superconducting phase arising from antiferromagnetic interactions and hole motion.
• Observed transitions between gapless Luttinger liquid, spin-gapped conducting, and superconducting regimes.
• Characterized the topological phase by a nonlocal string parameter and robust edge spin fractionalization.

Conclusions:

• The interplay of antiferromagnetic interactions and hole motion can induce a topological superconducting phase.
• Ultracold polar molecules provide a viable platform for realizing and studying such exotic quantum phases.
• The discovered topological phase exhibits nontrivial topological order with unique properties.