Theoretical Physics Seminar:
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Jun 05, 2008 11:00 AM, Theoretical Physics Seminar Room, LC 3.17
The Bethe Ansatz Solution of p+ip Superconductivity
Speaker: Links, Jon
Abstract: Superconductivity with p-wave (or triplet) pairing symmetry is currently of interest in the study of non-abelian topological states in two-dimensional systems, which underpin the implementation of topological quantum computation. Besides occuring in solid state superconductors, other realisations of p-wave pairing arise through Feschbach resonces in ultracold trapped fermi atoms. Read and Green (2000) have studied the so-called p+ip pairing model in the framework of BCS mean-field theory, and argued the existence of a topological quantum phase transition. In the weak phase the ground-state wavefunction is asymptotically the Moore-Read fractional quantum Hall state, while the strong phase exhibits tightly bound Cooper pairs. In this talk I will discuss the p+ip model in the context of its exact Bethe ansatz solution, which allows us to sharpen the analysis of Read and Green. Specifically the relation between the Bethe ansatz and mean-field solutions will be elucidated and the structure of the ground state investigated. This is joint work with German Sierra, Miguel Ibanez (Madrid) and Shao-You Zhao (UQ).
