Effects of nonequilibrium noise on a quantum memory encoded in Majorana zero modes

In order to increase the coherence time of topological quantum memories in systems with Majorana zero modes, it has recently been proposed to encode the logical qubit states in nonlocal Majorana operators which are immune to localized excitations involving the unpaired Majorana modes. In this encoding, a logical error only happens when the quasiparticles, subsequent to their excitation, travel a distance of the order of the spacing between the Majorana modes. Here, we study the decay time of a quantum memory encoded in a clean topological nanowire interacting with an environment with a particular emphasis on the propagation of the quasiparticles above the gap. We show that the nonlocal encoding does not provide a significantly longer coherence time than the local encoding. In particular, the characteristic speed of propagation is of the order of the Fermi velocity of the nanowire and not given by the much slower group velocity of quasiparticles which are excited just above the gap.