$Z_2$ index for gapless fermionic modes in the vortex core of three dimensional paired Dirac fermions

Abstract

We consider the gapless modes along the vortex line of the fully gapped, momentum independent paired states of three-dimensional Dirac fermions. For this, we require the solution of fermion zero modes of the corresponding two-dimensional problem in the presence of a point vortex, in the plane perpendicular to the vortex line. Based on the spectral symmetry requirement for the existence of the zero mode, we identify the appropriate generalized Jackiw-Rossi Hamiltonians for different paired states. A four-dimensional generalized Jackiw-Rossi Hamiltonian possesses spectral symmetry with respect to an antiunitary operator, and gives rise to a single zero mode only for the {\em odd vorticity}, which is formally described by a $Z_2$ index. In the presence of generic perturbations such as chemical potential, Dirac mass, and Zeeman couplings, the associated two-dimensional problem for the odd parity topological superconducting state maps onto {\em two} copies of generalized Jackiw-Rossi Hamiltonian, and consequently an odd vortex binds two Majorana fermions. In contrast, there are no zero energy states for the topologically trivial $s$-wave superconductor in the presence of any chiral symmetry breaking perturbation in the particle-hole channel, such as regular Dirac mass. We show that the number of one-dimensional dispersive modes along the vortex line is also determined by the index of the associated two-dimensional problem. For an axial superfluid state in the presence of various perturbations, we discuss the consequences of the $Z_2$ index on the anomaly equations.

17.5 pages, no figure: Published version, added discussions, new references, typos corrected

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• Crystalline symmetry protected helical Majorana modes in the iron pnictides
• Axionic superconductivity in three dimensional doped narrow gap semiconductors
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• Topological Vortex Phase Transitions in Iron-Based Superconductors
• Competing charge-density-wave, magnetic and topological ground states at and near Dirac points in graphene in axial magnetic fields
• Anomalous Coherence Length of Majorana Zero Modes at Vortices in Superconducting Topological Insulators
• Half vortex and fractional electrical charge in two dimensions
• Zero modes and index theorems for non-Hermitian Dirac fermions
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