Engineering statistical transmutation of identical quantum particles

Abstract

A fundamental pillar of quantum mechanics concerns indistinguishable quantum particles. In three dimensions they may be classified into fermions or bosons, having, respectively, antisymmetric or symmetric wave functions under particle exchange. One of numerous manifestations of this quantum statistics is the tendency of fermions (bosons) to anti-bunch (bunch). In a two-particle scattering experiment with two possible outgoing channels [1], the probability of the two particles to arrive each at a different terminal is enhanced (with respect to classical particles) for fermions, and reduced for bosons. Here we show that by entangling the particles with an external degree of freedom, we can engineer quantum statistical transmutation, e.g. causing fermions to bunch. Our analysis may have consequences on the observed fractional statistics of anyons, including non-Abelian statistics, with serious implications on quantum computing operations in the presence of external degrees of freedom.

Computational perspective on recent advances in quantum electronics: from electron quantum optics to nanoelectronic devices and systems

“…Selection of recent computational research: Barbarino et al considered a Hong-Ou-Mandel interferometer and showed how to engineer statistical transmutation of identical quantum particles, in particular, to cause fermions to bunch [189]. To that end, the authors used a scattering matrix approach and suggested to entangle the quantum particles with an external degree of freedom.…”

Multi-particle interferometry in the time-energy domain with localized topological quasiparticles

“…HOM interferometry has been demonstrated long ago for photons [2], and more recently also for electrons in solid-state devices [4][5][6]. Unfortunately, interferometry involving topological quasiparticles [13][14][15], e.g., anyons in the fractional quantum Hall regime [16][17][18] or chiral Majorana edge modes in a topological superconductor (TS) [19,20], has so far remained challenging (but see Ref. [21]).…”

Unrestricted Electron Bunching at the Helical Edge

“…It is useful for characterizing the unit of effective elementary charge in correlated electron systems, e.g., quasiparticle charges in fractional quantum Hall edges [3,4]. Entanglement with an external degree of freedom may modify the effective Fano factor [5,6].…”