Majorana zero modes in superconductor-semiconductor heterostructures

R. M. Lutchyn; E. P. A. M. Bakkers; L. P. Kouwenhoven; P. Krogstrup; C. M. Marcus; Y. Oreg

doi:10.1038/s41578-018-0003-1

Majorana zero modes in superconductor-semiconductor heterostructures

R. M. Lutchyn^*, E. P. A. M. Bakkers, L. P. Kouwenhoven, P. Krogstrup, C. M. Marcus, Y. Oreg

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Condensed Matter Physics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

825 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Realizing topological superconductivity and Majorana zero modes in the laboratory is a major goal in condensed-matter physics. In this Review, we survey the current status of this rapidly developing field, focusing on proposals for the realization of topological superconductivity in semiconductor-superconductor heterostructures. We examine materials science progress in growing InAs and InSb semiconductor nanowires and characterizing these systems. We then discuss the observation of robust signatures of Majorana zero modes in recent experiments, paying particular attention to zero-bias tunnelling conduction measurements and Coulomb blockade experiments. We also outline several next-generation experiments probing exotic properties of Majorana zero modes, including fusion rules and non-Abelian exchange statistics. Finally, we discuss prospects for implementing Majorana-based topological quantum computation.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	52-68
Number of pages	17
Journal	Nature Reviews Materials
Volume	3
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-018-0003-1
Publication status	Published - 1 May 2018

Funding

Financial support from The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research, Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter, European Research Council (ERC), Danish National Research Foundation, The European Research Council (ERC) under the grant agreement No. 716655 (HEMs-DAM), Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (CRC 183), the Israel Science Foundation (ISF), the Binational Science Foundation (BSF) and the European Research Council under the European Community's Seventh Framework Program (FP7/2007-2013)/ERC grant agreement No. 340210 and Microsoft Corporation is acknowledged. The authors thank B. van Heck, T. Karzig, M. Kjærgaard, C. Knapp, F. Nichele, E. Rossi and S. Vishveshwara for their help with the manuscript preparation. The authors acknowledge all their collaborators on the subject of topological superconductivity. All authors contributed to the discussion of content, researched data, wrote the article and assisted in editing the manuscript before submission.

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Biomaterials
Energy (miscellaneous)
Surfaces, Coatings and Films
Materials Chemistry

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10.1038/s41578-018-0003-1

http://arxiv.org/abs/1707.04899Licence: Unspecified

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abstract = "Realizing topological superconductivity and Majorana zero modes in the laboratory is a major goal in condensed-matter physics. In this Review, we survey the current status of this rapidly developing field, focusing on proposals for the realization of topological superconductivity in semiconductor-superconductor heterostructures. We examine materials science progress in growing InAs and InSb semiconductor nanowires and characterizing these systems. We then discuss the observation of robust signatures of Majorana zero modes in recent experiments, paying particular attention to zero-bias tunnelling conduction measurements and Coulomb blockade experiments. We also outline several next-generation experiments probing exotic properties of Majorana zero modes, including fusion rules and non-Abelian exchange statistics. Finally, we discuss prospects for implementing Majorana-based topological quantum computation.",

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AU - Lutchyn, R. M.

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AU - Krogstrup, P.

AU - Marcus, C. M.

AU - Oreg, Y.

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N2 - Realizing topological superconductivity and Majorana zero modes in the laboratory is a major goal in condensed-matter physics. In this Review, we survey the current status of this rapidly developing field, focusing on proposals for the realization of topological superconductivity in semiconductor-superconductor heterostructures. We examine materials science progress in growing InAs and InSb semiconductor nanowires and characterizing these systems. We then discuss the observation of robust signatures of Majorana zero modes in recent experiments, paying particular attention to zero-bias tunnelling conduction measurements and Coulomb blockade experiments. We also outline several next-generation experiments probing exotic properties of Majorana zero modes, including fusion rules and non-Abelian exchange statistics. Finally, we discuss prospects for implementing Majorana-based topological quantum computation.

AB - Realizing topological superconductivity and Majorana zero modes in the laboratory is a major goal in condensed-matter physics. In this Review, we survey the current status of this rapidly developing field, focusing on proposals for the realization of topological superconductivity in semiconductor-superconductor heterostructures. We examine materials science progress in growing InAs and InSb semiconductor nanowires and characterizing these systems. We then discuss the observation of robust signatures of Majorana zero modes in recent experiments, paying particular attention to zero-bias tunnelling conduction measurements and Coulomb blockade experiments. We also outline several next-generation experiments probing exotic properties of Majorana zero modes, including fusion rules and non-Abelian exchange statistics. Finally, we discuss prospects for implementing Majorana-based topological quantum computation.

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Majorana zero modes in superconductor-semiconductor heterostructures

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