Exchanging identical particles and topological quantum computing

Abstract

The phase factor $(-1)^{2s}$ that features in the exchange symmetry for identical spin-$s$ fermions or bosons is not simply and automatically equal to the phase factor one can observe in an interference experiment that involves physically exchanging two such particles. The observable phase contains, in general, single-particle geometric and dynamical phases as well, induced by both spin and spatial exchange transformations. By extending the analysis to (non-abelian) anyons it is argued that, similarly, there are single-anyon geometric and dynamical contributions in addition to purely topological unitary transformations that accompany physical exchanges of anyons. Work remains to be done in order to demonstrate---if it is still true---that those additional contributions to the gates in anyonic topological quantum computers do not destroy the inherent robustness of the ideal gates. This negative result is described most clearly in terms of the Berry matrix.