131 research outputs found
Majorana Zero Modes in 1D Quantum Wires Without Long-Ranged Superconducting Order
We show that long-ranged superconducting order is not necessary to guarantee
the existence of Majorana fermion zero modes at the ends of a quantum wire. We
formulate a concrete model which applies, for instance, to a semiconducting
quantum wire with strong spin-orbit coupling and Zeeman splitting coupled to a
wire with algebraically-decaying superconducting fluctuations. We solve this
model by bosonization and show that it supports Majorana fermion zero modes. We
argue that a large class of models will also show the same phenomenon. We
discuss the implications for experiments on spin-orbit coupled nanowires coated
with superconducting film and for LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interfaces.Comment: 14 pages. Figures added and a discussion of the effects of quantum
phase slips. References Added. Fourth author adde
How to realize a robust practical Majorana chain in a quantum dot-superconductor linear array
Semiconducting nanowires in proximity to superconductors are promising
experimental systems for Majorana fermions, which may ultimately be used as
building blocks for topological quantum computers. A serious challenge in the
experimental realization of the Majorana fermions is the supression of
topological superconductivity by disorder. We show that Majorana fermions
protected by a robust topological gap can occur at the ends of a chain of
quantum dots connected by s-wave superconductors. In the appropriate parameter
regime, we establish that the quantum dot/superconductor system is equivalent
to a 1D Kitaev chain, which can be tuned to be in a robust topological phase
with Majorana end modes even in the case where the quantum dots and
superconductors are both strongly disordered. Such a spin-orbit coupled quantum
dot - s-wave superconductor array provides an ideal experimental platform for
the observation of non-Abelian Majorana modes.Comment: 8 pages; 3 figures; version 2: Supplementary material updated to
include more general proof for localized Majorana fermion
Two-dimensional epitaxial superconductor-semiconductor heterostructures: A platform for topological superconducting networks
Progress in the emergent field of topological superconductivity relies on
synthesis of new material combinations, combining superconductivity, low
density, and spin-orbit coupling (SOC). For example, theory [1-4] indicates
that the interface between a one-dimensional (1D) semiconductor (Sm) with
strong SOC and a superconductor (S) hosts Majorana modes with nontrivial
topological properties [5-8]. Recently, epitaxial growth of Al on InAs
nanowires was shown to yield a high quality S-Sm system with uniformly
transparent interfaces [9] and a hard induced gap, indicted by strongly
suppressed sub gap tunneling conductance [10]. Here we report the realization
of a two-dimensional (2D) InAs/InGaAs heterostructure with epitaxial Al,
yielding a planar S-Sm system with structural and transport characteristics as
good as the epitaxial wires. The realization of 2D epitaxial S-Sm systems
represent a significant advance over wires, allowing extended networks via
top-down processing. Among numerous potential applications, this new material
system can serve as a platform for complex networks of topological
superconductors with gate-controlled Majorana zero modes [1-4]. We demonstrate
gateable Josephson junctions and a highly transparent 2D S-Sm interface based
on the product of excess current and normal state resistance
Topological superfluids on a lattice with non-Abelian gauge fields
Two-component fermionic superfluids on a lattice with an external non-Abelian
gauge field give access to a variety of topological phases in presence of a
sufficiently large spin imbalance. We address here the important issue of
superfluidity breakdown induced by spin imbalance by a self-consistent
calculation of the pairing gap, showing which of the predicted phases will be
experimentally accessible. We present the full topological phase diagram, and
we analyze the connection between Chern numbers and the existence of
topologically protected and non-protected edge modes. The Chern numbers are
calculated via a very efficient and simple method.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures to be published in Europhysics Letter
Polar Kerr Effect as Probe for Time-Reversal Symmetry Breaking in Unconventional Superconductors
The search for broken time reversal symmetry (TRSB) in unconventional
superconductors intensified in the past year as more systems have been
predicted to possess such a state. Following our pioneering study of TRSB
states in SrRuO using magneto-optic probes, we embarked on a systematic
study of several other of these candidate systems. The primary instrument for
our studies is the Sagnac magneto-optic interferometer, which we recently
developed. This instrument can measure magneto-optic Faraday or Kerr effects
with an unprecedented sensitivity of 10 nanoradians at temperatures as low as
100 mK. In this paper we review our recent studies of TRSB in several systems,
emphasizing the study of the pseudogap state of high temperature
superconductors and the inverse proximity effect in superconductor/ferromagnet
proximity structures.Comment: A review pape
Top-transmon: hybrid superconducting qubit for parity-protected quantum computation
Qubits constructed from uncoupled Majorana fermions are protected from
decoherence, but to perform a quantum computation this topological protection
needs to be broken. Parity-protected quantum computation breaks the protection
in a minimally invasive way, by coupling directly to the fermion parity of the
system --- irrespective of any quasiparticle excitations. Here we propose to
use a superconducting charge qubit in a transmission line resonator (a socalled
transmon) to perform parity-protected rotations and read-out of a topological
(top) qubit. The advantage over an earlier proposal using a flux qubit is that
the coupling can be switched on and off with exponential accuracy, promising a
reduced sensitivity to charge noise.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure
Topological properties of superconducting junctions
Motivated by recent developments in the field of one-dimensional topological
superconductors, we investigate the topological properties of s-matrix of
generic superconducting junctions where dimension should not play any role. We
argue that for a finite junction the s-matrix is always topologically trivial.
We resolve an apparent contradiction with the previous results by taking into
account the low-energy resonant poles of s-matrix. Thus no common topological
transition occur in a finite junction. We reveal a transition of a different
kind that concerns the configuration of the resonant poles
Bulk electronic state of superconducting topological insulator
We study electronic properties of a superconducting topological insulator
whose parent material is a topological insulator. We calculate the temperature
dependence of the specific heat and spin susceptibility for four promising
superconducting pairings proposed by L. Fu and E. Berg (Phys. Rev. Lett. 105,
097001). Since the line shapes of temperature dependence of specific heat are
almost identical among three of the four pairings, it is difficult to identify
them simply from the specific heat. On the other hand, we obtain wide varieties
of the temperature dependence of spin susceptibility for each pairing
reflecting the spin structure of Cooper pair. We propose that the pairing
symmetry of superconducting topological insulator can be determined from
measurement of Knight shift by changing the direction of applied magnetic
field.Comment: 12 pages, 15 figures. Accepted for publication in J. Phys. Soc. Jp
Life after charge noise: recent results with transmon qubits
We review the main theoretical and experimental results for the transmon, a
superconducting charge qubit derived from the Cooper pair box. The increased
ratio of the Josephson to charging energy results in an exponential suppression
of the transmon's sensitivity to 1/f charge noise. This has been observed
experimentally and yields homogeneous broadening, negligible pure dephasing,
and long coherence times of up to 3 microseconds. Anharmonicity of the energy
spectrum is required for qubit operation, and has been proven to be sufficient
in transmon devices. Transmons have been implemented in a wide array of
experiments, demonstrating consistent and reproducible results in very good
agreement with theory.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures. Review article, accepted for publication in
Quantum Inf. Pro
A road to reality with topological superconductors
Topological states of matter are a source of low-energy quasiparticles, bound
to a defect or propagating along the surface. In a superconductor these are
Majorana fermions, described by a real rather than a complex wave function. The
absence of complex phase factors promises protection against decoherence in
quantum computations based on topological superconductivity. This is a tutorial
style introduction written for a Nature Physics focus issue on topological
matter.Comment: pre-copy-editing, author-produced version of the published paper: 4
pages, 2 figure
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