Lifshitz transition in the double-core vortex in ³He-B

We study the spectrum of fermion states localized within the vortex core of a weak-coupling p-wave superfluid. The low energy spectrum consists of two anomalous branches that generate large density of states at the locations of the half cores of the vortex. The figure shows quasiparticle trajectories of energy at the Fermi level. Fermi liquid interactions significantly stretch the vortex structure, which leads to a Lifshitz-type transition in the fermionic spectrum and the possibility of a Majorana state. We apply the results to rotational dynamics of vortices in superfluid ³He-B and find explanation for the observed slow mode. The NMR absorption on vortices at low temperatures can quantitatively be explained by radiation of spin waves, as explained here. At higher temperatures also normal-superfluid disequilibrium contributes.

Publications

1. M. A. Silaev, E. V. Thuneberg and M. Fogelström, Lifshitz transition in the double-core vortex in ³He-B, Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 235301 (2015).
2. Poster at QFS-2015: Lifshitz transition in the double-core vortex in ³He-B, (19.8.2015, E. Thuneberg, pdf file, 1.9 Mb)

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