From Andreev to Majorana bound states in hybrid superconductor–semiconductor nanowires

Prada, Elsa; San-José, Pablo; Moor, Michiel W. A. de; Geresdi, Attila; Lee, Eduardo J. H.; Klinovaja, Jelena; Loss, Daniel; Nygård, Jesper; Aguado, Ramón; Kouwenhoven, Leo P.

doi:10.1038/s42254-020-0228-y

Cited by 410 publications

(331 citation statements)

References 252 publications

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“…The search for Majorana zero modes (MZMs) in topological superconductor systems is currently an intensely pursued quest in condensed-matter physics [1][2][3][4], with the primary aim to realize a robust framework for topological quantum computing [5][6][7]. Currently the most advanced experimental platforms for Majorana devices are based on proximitized semiconducting nanowires [8][9][10], although they have not yet been unambiguously proven to host Majorana states. Transport properties of Majorana nanowire devices have been intensively studied, with the main purpose of devising a detection scheme for the Majorana states by determining their transport fingerprints.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Transport properties of Majorana nanowire devices have been intensively studied, with the main purpose of devising a detection scheme for the Majorana states by determining their transport fingerprints. The most fundamental one, that of observing a quantized zero bias peak in conductance [4,11,12], can be mimicked by trivial Andreev bound states [10,[13][14][15][16] or level repulsion in multiband systems [17,18], thus several detection schemes also exploiting Majorana nonlocality have been proposed [19][20][21]. From the point of view of the applications, one of the schemes for the readout of Majorana qubits is based on transport interferometry [22,23], providing further motivation to explore the transport properties of Majorana devices.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Most of the works in this domain are, out of necessity, either numerical or based upon a minimal model, concentrating on charge transport through the in-gap states [10,[13][14][15][24][25][26][27]. Our aim is to find an analytical expression for the current flowing through a topological superconductor, taking into account its full excitation spectrum.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Linear and nonlinear transport across a finite Kitaev chain: An exact analytical study

et al. 2021

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We present exact analytical results for the differential conductance of a finite Kitaev chain in an N-S-N configuration, where the topological superconductor is contacted on both sides with normal leads. Our results are obtained with the Keldysh nonequilibrium Green's function technique, using the full spectrum of the Kitaev chain without resorting to minimal models. A closed formula for the linear conductance is given, and the analytical procedure to obtain the differential conductance for the transport mediated by higher excitations is described. The linear conductance attains the maximum value of e 2 /h only for the exact zero-energy states. Also, the differential conductance exhibits a complex pattern created by numerous crossings and anticrossings in the excitation spectrum. We reveal the crossings to be protected by inversion symmetry, while the anticrossings result from a pairing-induced hybridization of particlelike and holelike solutions with the same inversion character. Our comprehensive treatment of the Kitaev chain allows us also to identify the contributions of both local and nonlocal transmission processes to transport at arbitrary bias voltage. Local Andreev reflection processes dominate the transport within the bulk gap and diminish for higher excited states but reemerge when the bias voltage probes the avoided crossings. The nonlocal direct transmission is enhanced above the bulk gap but contributes also to the transport mediated by the topological states.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Linear and nonlinear transport across a finite Kitaev chain: An exact analytical study

et al. 2021

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“…where n kσ (0) = [1 + exp ((ε Nkσ − µ N )/k B T )] −1 is the Fermi distribution function for the normal lead electrons. We have solved numerically these coupled differential equations (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17) subject to the specific initial conditions. For convenience, we have assumed that till t < 0 both external reservoirs were isolated from the quantum dots.…”

Section: Equations Of Motionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Subgap Dynamics of Double Quantum Dot Coupled Between Superconducting and Normal Leads

Baran

Taranko

Domański

2021

Preprint

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Dynamical processes induced by the external time-dependent fields can provide valuable insight into the characteristic energy scales of a given physical system. We investigate them here in a nanoscopic heterostructure, consisting of the double quantum dot coupled in series to the superconducting and the metallic reservoirs, analyzing its response to (i) abrupt bias voltage applied across the junction, (ii) sudden change of the energy levels, and imposed by (iii) their periodic driving. We explore subgap properties of this setup which are strictly related to the in-gap quasiparticles and discuss their signatures manifested in the time-dependent charge currents. The characteristic multi-mode oscillations, their beating patters and photon-assisted harmonics reveal a rich spectrum of dynamical features that might be important for designing the superconducting qubits.

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“…Usual protocols to detect MBSs in (higher-order) TSCs are based on a direct state tomography or detection of specific features, such as a zero-bias peak in the differential conductance. However, such probes do not provide a clear way to distinguish between MBSs and other types of bound states of topologically trivial nature [54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67][68], which hinders unambiguous identification of the topological phases and calls for additional experimental signatures.…”

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confidence: 99%

Quadrupole spin polarization as signature of second-order topological superconductors

et al. 2021

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We study theoretically second-order topological superconductors characterized by the presence of pairs of zero-energy Majorana corner states. We uncover a quadrupole spin polarization at the system edges that provides a striking signature to identify topological phases, thereby complementing standard approaches based on zero-bias conductance peaks due to Majorana corner states. We consider two different classes of second-order topological superconductors with broken time-reversal symmetry and show that both classes are characterized by a quadrupolar structure of the spin polarization that disappears as the system passes through the topological phase transition. This feature can be accessed experimentally using spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopes. We study different models hosting second-order topological phases, both analytically and numerically, and using Keldysh techniques we provide numerical simulations of the spin-polarized currents probed by scanning tips.

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From Andreev to Majorana bound states in hybrid superconductor–semiconductor nanowires

Cited by 410 publications

References 252 publications

Linear and nonlinear transport across a finite Kitaev chain: An exact analytical study

Linear and nonlinear transport across a finite Kitaev chain: An exact analytical study

Subgap Dynamics of Double Quantum Dot Coupled Between Superconducting and Normal Leads

Quadrupole spin polarization as signature of second-order topological superconductors

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