Phase-tunable Majorana bound states in a topological N-SNS junction

TY - JOUR

T1 - Phase-tunable Majorana bound states in a topological N-SNS junction

AU - Hansen, Esben Bork

AU - Danon, Jeroen

AU - Flensberg, Karsten

N1 - [Qdev]

PY - 2016/3/1

Y1 - 2016/3/1

N2 - We theoretically study the differential conductance of a one-dimensional normal-superconductor-normal-superconductor (N-SNS) junction with a phase bias applied between the two superconductors. We consider specifically a junction formed by a spin-orbit coupled semiconducting nanowire with regions of the nanowire having superconducting pairing induced by a bulk s-wave superconductor. When the nanowire is tuned into a topologically nontrivial phase by a Zeeman field, it hosts zero-energy Majorana modes at its ends as well as at the interface between the two superconductors. The phase-dependent splitting of the Majorana modes gives rise to features in the differential conductance that offer a clear distinction between the topologically trivial and nontrivial phases. We calculate the transport properties of the junction numerically and also present a simple analytical model that captures the main properties of the predicted tunneling spectroscopy.

AB - We theoretically study the differential conductance of a one-dimensional normal-superconductor-normal-superconductor (N-SNS) junction with a phase bias applied between the two superconductors. We consider specifically a junction formed by a spin-orbit coupled semiconducting nanowire with regions of the nanowire having superconducting pairing induced by a bulk s-wave superconductor. When the nanowire is tuned into a topologically nontrivial phase by a Zeeman field, it hosts zero-energy Majorana modes at its ends as well as at the interface between the two superconductors. The phase-dependent splitting of the Majorana modes gives rise to features in the differential conductance that offer a clear distinction between the topologically trivial and nontrivial phases. We calculate the transport properties of the junction numerically and also present a simple analytical model that captures the main properties of the predicted tunneling spectroscopy.

U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevB.93.094501

DO - 10.1103/PhysRevB.93.094501

M3 - Journal article

SN - 2469-9950

VL - 93

JO - Physical Review B

JF - Physical Review B

IS - 9

M1 - 094501

ER -