Majorana Fermions

Synopsis

Initially proposed by Ettore Majorana, Majorana fermions are particles that show the intriguing characteristic of being their own antiparticles. These fermions are electrically neutral meaning that they have no net charge which distinguish them from the charged particles such as electrons. 

In condensed matter physics, Majorana fermions are predicted to emerge as quasiparticles in systems such as topological superconductors, and are expected to be found at the boundaries of these materials in what are known as zero-energy modes. Majorana fermions have the potential to be highly valuable in the realm of quantum computing because of their ability in creating and sustaining a coherent and robust quantum state.