Topological superconductor: edge Majorana modes, bulk gap, and phase diagram
Kitaev Chain Parameters
H = Σ[−t(c†ᵢcᵢ₊₁+h.c.) − μc†ᵢcᵢ + Δcᵢcᵢ₊₁+h.c.]
Topological: |μ|<2t (w=1)
Trivial: |μ|>2t (w=0)
Phase: —
Bulk gap: —
Edge mode E: —
Kitaev (2001): the 1D p-wave superconductor has two phases separated by |μ|=2t.
In the topological phase, zero-energy Majorana modes bind to the wire ends.
These modes are their own antiparticles and immune to local perturbations.
The winding number w=1 classifies the topological phase (class D symmetry).