Diagnosing topological phase transitions in 1D superconductors using Berry singularity markers

Area of Science:

• Condensed Matter Physics
• Quantum Materials
• Topological Superconductivity

Background:

• Topological phase transitions are crucial in understanding exotic quantum states.
• Superconductors in the BDI symmetry class exhibit unique topological properties.
• Characterizing these transitions requires robust theoretical and experimental methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a novel method for characterizing topological phase transitions in 1D BDI superconductors.
• To apply the Berry singularity markers (BSMs) approach to specific models, including the Kitaev chain.
• To identify experimental probes for detecting topological charges and phase transitions.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Berry singularity markers (BSMs) approach for topological characterization.
• Applied the BSM method to the Kitaev chain model and its variants with extended pairings.
• Identified pairs of external fields (flux, strain, chemical potential) to probe Berry singularities.

Main Results:

• Successfully characterized topological phase transitions in 1D BDI superconductors using BSMs.
• Demonstrated the effectiveness of BSMs on the Kitaev chain and extended models.
• Identified specific external field combinations capable of detecting topological charges.

Conclusions:

• The Berry singularity markers approach provides a viable method for characterizing topological superconductivity.
• External fields like flux or strain combined with chemical potential tuning are effective experimental probes.
• The BSM method is experimentally accessible for topological nanowire hybrid systems.