Objective The recent understanding of the topological properties of matter has led to the search for the experimental production and control of topological excitations such as Majorana fermions. They appear at the boundary between a topological superconductor and a normal metal and have intriguing properties such as non-abelian exchange statistics and insensitivity to decoherence. Their production would give an invaluable insight on the properties of topological phases of matter as well as paving the way towards fault-tolerant quantum computing. The aim of this action is to create them in an ultracold atom set-up which is a ideal platform to engineer interesting Hamiltonians.We propose to create such excitations by combining effective spin-orbit coupling with superfluid properties. We will use near-resonant light which has led to the successful implementation of artificial magnetic fields and spin-orbit coupling in ultracold atoms. We want to produce the latter coupling while limiting the associated heating due to spontaneous emission: the key idea is to shine the near-resonant beams on a very small region, where spontaneous emission leads to losses but not to heating.We already have an apparatus able to realize the atomic equivalent of a quantum point contact. In this project, the experienced researcher, already expert in ultracold atom techniques, will lead the experimental team effort. As intermediate results, we will study the flow of atoms through “atomtronics” light structures, implement a cooling scheme using such an atomtronic device and understand the effect of increased losses in the channel on transport.The combination of these new potentials with superfluid behaviour for ultracold atoms leads to the implementation of the Kitaev model that bears the highly sought Majorana excitations, and detection will take advantage of easily accessible transport observables. The atomtronics techniques developed would open wide perspectives for future studies. Fields of science natural sciencesphysical sciencestheoretical physicsparticle physicsfermionsnatural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistryalkali metalsengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringcomputer hardwarequantum computersnatural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronicssuperconductivity Keywords Degenerate Fermi gases Topological excitations Atomtronics Quantum transport Majorana Fermions Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2016 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2016 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF) Coordinator EIDGENOESSISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE ZUERICH Net EU contribution € 175 419,60 Address Raemistrasse 101 8092 Zuerich Switzerland See on map Region Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Zürich Zürich Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00
