Stability of the k = 3 Read-Rezayi state in chiral two-dimensional systems with tunable interactions

Abstract

The k = 3 Read-Rezayi (RR) parafermion quantum Hall state hosts non-Abelian excitations which provide a platform for universal topological quantum computation. Although the RR state may be realized at the filling factor v = 12/5 in GaAs-based two-dimensional electron systems, the corresponding quantum Hall state is weak and at present nearly impossible to study experimentally. Here we argue that the RR state can alternatively be realized in a class of chiral materials with massless and massive Dirac-like band structure. This family of materials encompasses monolayer and bilayer graphene, as well as topological insulators. We show that, compared to GaAs, these systems provide several important advantages in realizing and studying the RR state. Most importantly, the effective interactions can be tuned in situ by varying the external magnetic field, and by designing the dielectric environment of the sample. This tunability enables the realization of RR state with controllable energy gaps in different Landau levels. It also allows one to probe the quantum phase transitions to other compressible and incompressible phases.