Majorana Fermions in Nuclear, Particle, and Solid-state Physics

August 15, 2024 Jeremiah Hendren

Majorana Fermions in Nuclear, Particle, and Solid-state Physics

Elliott, Steven R., and Marcel Franz.
Reviews of Modern Physics 87, no. 1 (2015): 137-163
https://doi.org/10.1103/RevModPhys.87.137

In the late 1920’s Schroedinger published his nonrelativistic wave equation (Schroedinger, 1926) describing the quantum behavior of fundamental particles. Soon thereafter Paul Dirac developed the wave equation (Dirac, 1928) that bears his name describing the behavior of relativistic particles. About a decade later, Ettore Majorana recognized the importance of a specific representation of the Dirac Equation (Majorana, 1937). There are numerous examples of physical quantities that are described by the Dirac Equation, but as yet, none have been found that obey that of Majorana. Discovering particles or quasi-particles that are governed by Majorana’s formalism would have significant implications for science ranging from cosmology to particle physics to solid state physics. The remarkable achievement of the Majorana Equation and its potential consequences motivate this colloquium.

Elliott & Franz

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