Current-Controlled Majorana Bound States in Hybrid Semiconductor-Superconductor Nanowires Deposited on Magnetic Stripe Domains

ORAL

Abstract

The fringing fields created by magnetic stripes formed in magnetic films [1] generate inhomogeneous magnetic textures on length scales as large as 2 microns. A hybrid semiconductor-superconductor nanowire deposited on the top of a magnetic film in the stripe phase experiences a large synthetic spin-orbit coupling resulting from the fringing fields [2] of the striped domains. We show that such a system can support the formation of Majorana bound states (MBS) localized at the ends of the wire. We investigate the transition to the topological superconducting phase as a function of the stripes size and orientation, which can be tuned by applying a charge current through the magnetic film. This produces changes in the fringing magnetic texture acting on the nanowire and eventually leads to a topological phase transition with the corresponding emergence or destruction of MBS [2]. The proposed platform is promising for electrically tuning MBS in a non-invasive way and without the need for external magnetic fields.

[1] A. D. Kent et al., J. of Phys.: Condens. Matter 13, R461 (2001).
[2] G. L. Fatin et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 117, 077002 (2016); A. Matos-Abiague et al., Solid State Commun. 262, 1 (2017).

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Presenters

  • Narayan Mohanta

    Departiment of Physics and Astronomy, Wayne State University, Wayne State University, Physics, Wayne State University

Authors

  • Narayan Mohanta

    Departiment of Physics and Astronomy, Wayne State University, Wayne State University, Physics, Wayne State University

  • Tong Zhou

    Department of Physics, University at Buffalo, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Department of Physics, State University of New York at Buffalo

  • Jong E Han

    University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Department of Physics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Department of Physics, University at Buffalo, Physics, State Univ of NY - Buffalo

  • Andrew D Kent

    Department of Physics, New York University, New York Univ NYU, Physics, New York University, New York University

  • Javad Shabani

    Department of Physics, New York University, Physics, New York University, Center for Quantum Phenomena, Department of Physics, New York University, Center for Quantum Phenomena, New York University, New York University, Physics, Harvard University

  • Igor Zutic

    University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Department of Physics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Department of Physics, University at Buffalo, Physics, State Univ of NY - Buffalo, Physics, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Physics, State University of New York at Buffalo

  • Alex Matos Abiague

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, Wayne State University, Wayne State University Detroit, Departiment of Physics and Astronomy, Wayne State University, Wayne State University, Physics, Wayne State University