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).

*Work supported by DARPA TEE and U. S. ONR N000141712793 (N. M., I. Z., and A. M-A.).

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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