Variational Ansatz for an Abelian to Non-Abelian Topological Phase Transition in ν=1/2+1/2 Bilayers

We propose a one-parameter variational ansatz to describe the tunneling-driven Abelian to non-Abelian transition in bosonic nu = 1/2 + 1/2 fractional quantum Hall bilayers. This ansatz, based on exact matrix product states, captures the low-energy physics all along the transition and allows us to probe its characteristic features. The transition is continuous, characterized by the decoupling of antisymmetric degrees of freedom. We futhermore determine the tunneling strength above which non-Abelian statistics should be observed experimentally. Finally, we propose to engineer the interlayer tunneling to create an interface trapping a neutral chiral Majorana fermion. We microscopically characterize such an interface using a slightly modified model wave function.