From Spintronics to Majorana Bound States

ORAL

Abstract

Magnetic textures, widely used to store information, can also provide synthetic spin-orbit coupling and confinement, supporting the creation of topologically nontrivial states, such as skyrmions and Majorana bound states (MBS) [1,2]. By a careful design of an array of magnetic nanopillars (MNPs), based on finite-element simulations, the resulting magnetic textures modify a proximity-induced superconductivity in the nearby 2D electron gas to form effective topological wires with MBS emerging at their ends [3]. Using spin-transfer torque, common to spintronics, to control magnetic textures [4], these topological wires can be reconfigured to implement fusion and braiding of MBS [2]. We show that a generalized topological condition for MBS formation [2] can also guide the understanding of the MBS evolution in realistic MNP arrays [3].
[1] R. Wiesendanger, Nat. Rev. Mater. 1, 1 (2016)
[2] G. L. Fatin, et. al., PRL 117, 077002 (2016); A. Matos-Abiague et al., Solid State Commun. 262, 1 (2017).
Ref. [3] T. Zhou et al., arXiv:1901.02506.
[4] Handbook of Spin Transport and Magnetism, edited by E. Y. Tsymbal and I. Zutic (CRC Press, New York, 2011).

–

Presenters

  • 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

Authors

  • 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

  • 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

  • Narayan Mohanta

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

  • 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

  • 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