P2 3 superfluids are topological

Takeshi Mizushima, Kota Masuda, Muneto Nitta

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We clarify the topology of P23 superfluids which are expected to be realized in the inner cores of neutron stars and cubic odd-parity superconductors. P23 phases include uniaxial/biaxial nematic phases and nonunitary ferromagnetic and cyclic phases. Here, we show that all the phases are accompanied by different types of topologically protected gapless fermions: surface Majorana fermions in nematic phases and a quartet of (single) itinerant Majorana fermions in the cyclic (ferromagnetic) phase. Using the superfluid Fermi liquid theory, we also demonstrate that dihedral-two and -four biaxial nematic phases are thermodynamically favored in the weak coupling limit under a magnetic field. It is shown that the tricritical point exists on the phase boundary between these two phases and may be realized in the core of realistic magnetars. We unveil the intertwining of symmetry and topology behind the mass acquisition of surface Majorana fermions in nematic phases.

Original languageEnglish
Article number140503
JournalPhysical Review B
Volume95
Issue number14
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2017 Apr 20

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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