Dynamics of Majorana fermions in two-dimensions

Abstract

A Majorana fermion is the single fermionic particle that is its own antiparticle. Its dynamics is determined by the Majorana equation where the spinor field $(\psi)$ is by definition equal to its charge-conjugate field $(\psi_c)$. Here, we study the dynamics of Majorana fermions in the presence of the most general static external field in $1+1$ dimensions, which is just a scalar potential, by implementing for the first time the methods of supersymmetric quantum mechanics. In particular, for potentials for which shape invariance holds, we show how to obtain analytical solutions. We find that although this equation does have bound states, it does not have stationary states. The approach is illustrated with a linear potential.