Majorana zero modes are quasiparticles that hold promise as building blocks for topological quantum computing. However, the litmus test for their detection, the observation of exotic non-Abelian statistics revealed by braiding, has so far eluded experimental efforts. Here, we take advantage of the fact that skyrmion-vortex pairs in superconductor-ferromagnet heterostructures harboring Majorana zero modes can be easily manipulated in two spatial dimensions. We adiabatically braid the hybrid topological structures and explicitly confirm the non-Abelian statistics of the Majorana zero modes numerically using a self-consistent calculation of the superconducting order parameter. Our proposal of controlling skyrmion-vortex pairs provides the necessary leeway toward a scalable topological quantum computing platform.

• Received 4 November 2021
• Revised 23 May 2022
• Accepted 23 May 2022

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.105.224509