title: Simulating the exchange of Majorana zero modes with a photonic system.
abstract: The realization of Majorana zero modes is in the centre of intense theoretical and experimental investigations. Unfortunately, their exchange that can reveal their exotic statistics needs manipulations that are still beyond our experimental capabilities. Here we take an alternative approach. Through the Jordan-Wigner transformation, the Kitaev's chain supporting two Majorana zero modes is mapped to the spin-1/2 chain. We experimentally simulated the spin system and its evolution with a photonic quantum simulator. This allows us to probe the geometric phase, which corresponds to the exchange of two Majorana zero modes positioned at the ends of a three-site chain. Finally, we demonstrate the immunity of quantum information encoded in the Majorana zero modes against local errors through the simulator. Our photonic simulator opens the way for the efficient realization and manipulation of Majorana zero modes in complex architectures.
authors: Key Laboratory of Quantum Information, Department of Optics and Optical Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, CAS, JinZhai Road 96, Hefei 230026, China.|Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China.
authors: Jin-Shi
authors: JS
authors: Xu
authors: Key Laboratory of Quantum Information, Department of Optics and Optical Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, CAS, JinZhai Road 96, Hefei 230026, China.|Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China.
authors: Kai
authors: 0000-0003-3018-7219
authors: K
authors: Sun
authors: Key Laboratory of Quantum Information, Department of Optics and Optical Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, CAS, JinZhai Road 96, Hefei 230026, China.|Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China.
authors: Yong-Jian
authors: YJ
authors: Han
authors: Key Laboratory of Quantum Information, Department of Optics and Optical Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, CAS, JinZhai Road 96, Hefei 230026, China.|Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China.
authors: Chuan-Feng
authors: CF
authors: Li
authors: School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
authors: Jiannis K
authors: JK
authors: Pachos
authors: Key Laboratory of Quantum Information, Department of Optics and Optical Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, CAS, JinZhai Road 96, Hefei 230026, China.|Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China.
authors: Guang-Can
authors: GC
authors: Guo