Observation of a Majorana zero mode in a topologically protected edge channel
Abstract
One of the early proposals for the physical implementation of Majorana zero modes (MZMs) centered on inducing superconductivity in a topological insulator (TI) by placing it in contact with a superconductor. Jäck et al. used scanning tunneling spectroscopy to observe MZMs in a similar heterostructure. In their devices, the TI is a hexagonal bismuth island placed on top of a layer of superconducting niobium. The bismuth island had topological boundary hinge states on every other edge of the hexagon. Placing a cluster of iron atoms on the hinge generated a zero-bias peak characteristic of MZMs at the interface between the cluster and the hinge state.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Jun 28, 2019
- Source ID
- 10.1126/science.aax1444
Entities
People
- Ali Yazdani
- Andrei Bernevig
- Berthold Jäck
- Jian Li
- Sangjun Jeon
- Yonglong Xie
Organizations
- Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
- Army Research Office
- David and Lucile Packard Foundation
- Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- National Science Foundation
- Office of Naval Research
- Princeton University
- Simons Foundation
- United States Department of Energy
- Westlake University