Zero modes of fermions trapped by giant vortices

Abstract

Abstract Zero-energy solutions of the Dirac equation for the fermions bound to giant vortices of large winding number n are studied in the abelian Higgs and Chern-Simons Higgs models. The case of Jackiw-Rossi theory of the Majorana states in topological superconductors is discussed in detail. By expanding in inverse powers of n we find an analytic result for asymptotically all n solutions required by the index theorem. In the abelian Higgs model the zero modes fill the vortex core and reveal a universal structure independent of fine details of the gauge and scalar field interactions which, in particular, determines the general properties of the large-n superconducting cosmic strings. On the contrary, for the Chern-Simons Higgs vortices the zero modes are localized on the core boundary and the explicit solution is obtained for the supersymmetric couplings in a self-dual background.