Fusion protocol for Majorana modes in coupled quantum dots

Understand

In a recent breakthrough experiment [Nature (London) 614, 445 (2023)], signatures of Majorana zero modes have been observed in tunnel spectroscopy for a minimal Kitaev chain constructed from coupled quantum dots.

• However, as Ising anyons, Majoranas' most fundamental property of non-Abelian statistics is yet to be detected.
• Moreover, the minimal Kitaev chain is qualitatively different from topological superconductors in that it supports Majoranas only at a sweet spot.
• Therefore, it is not obvious whether non-Abelian characteristics such as braiding and fusion can be demonstrated in this platform with a reasonable level of robustness.