Detecting non-Abelian statistics in the nu = 5/2 fractional quantum hall state

Abstract

In this Letter we propose an interferometric experiment to detect non-Abelian quasiparticle statistics--one of the hallmark characteristics of the Moore-Read state expected to describe the observed fractional quantum Hall effect plateau at nu = 5/2. The implications for using this state for constructing a topologically protected qubit as has been recently proposed by Das Sarma et al. are also addressed.