Proposal to stabilize and detect half-quantum vortices in strontium ruthenate thin films: Non-Abelian braiding statistics of vortex matter in a ${p_x}+i{p_y}$ superconductor

We propose a simple way to stabilize half-quantum vortices in superconducting strontium ruthenate, assuming the order parameter is of chiral $p_x + ip_y$ symmetry, as is suggested by recent experiments. The method, first given by Salomaa and Volovik in the context of Helium-3, is very naturally suited for strontium ruthenate, which has a layered, quasi-two-dimensional, perovskite crystal structure. We propose possible experiments to detect their non-abelian braiding statistics. These experiments are of potential importance for topological quantum computation.