Manifestation of edge-bulk incompatibility in fractional quantum Hall platform

Abstract

The edges of a two-dimensional topological phase of matter serve as a platform underlying its low-energy dynamics. The topology of the bulk phase dictates the structure of the gapless modes. Proximitizing boundary modes to another boundary, may lead to gap opening at the edge. Subsequently, one may engineer different segments of the boundary with intrinsic incompatibility of gap-generating mechanisms ("edge-edge incompatibility"), facilitating the generation of topological excitations, e.g. Majorana zero modes (MZMs). Here we address the possibility of bulk-edge incompatibility, whereby the intrinsic bulk gap competes with a gap generated via boundary modes. Specifically, we consider two $\nu =2/3$ fractional quantum Hall phases whose shared boundary modes are gapped out via disorder-generated tunneling across the boundary. A neutral superconducting phase, made up of neutral edge modes, is stabilized over a broad range of interaction parameters. This phase cannot coexist with the bulk gap. The resulting edge-bulk incompatibility gives rise to the emergence of MZMs (in the neutral sector). We propose an experimental setup to verify both the neutral superconductivity phase and the emergent MZMs.

6 pages (3 figures) for the main text, 8 pages (3 figures) for the supplementary

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