Flux-induced topological superconductivity in full-shell nanowires.
Vaitiekėnas, S;Winkler, G W;van Heck, B;Karzig, T;Deng, M-T;Flensberg, K;Glazman, L I;Nayak, C;Krogstrup, P;Lutchyn, R M;Marcus, C M;
science (new york, ny)2020Vol. 367
227
vaitieknas2020fluxinducedscience
Abstract
Hybrid semiconductor-superconductor nanowires have emerged as a promising platform for realizing topological superconductivity (TSC). Here, we present a route to TSC using magnetic flux applied to a full superconducting shell surrounding a semiconducting nanowire core. Tunneling into the core reveals a hard induced gap near zero applied flux, corresponding to zero phase winding, and a gapped region with a discrete zero-energy state around one applied flux quantum, corresponding to 2π phase winding. Theoretical analysis indicates that the winding of the superconducting phase can induce a transition to a topological phase supporting Majorana zero modes. Measured Coulomb blockade peak spacing around one flux quantum shows a length dependence that is consistent with the existence of Majorana modes at the ends of the nanowire.