| Literature DB >> 29590094 |
Hao Zhang1, Chun-Xiao Liu2, Sasa Gazibegovic3, Di Xu1, John A Logan4, Guanzhong Wang1, Nick van Loo1, Jouri D S Bommer1, Michiel W A de Moor1, Diana Car3, Roy L M Op Het Veld3, Petrus J van Veldhoven3, Sebastian Koelling3, Marcel A Verheijen3,5, Mihir Pendharkar6, Daniel J Pennachio4, Borzoyeh Shojaei4,7, Joon Sue Lee7, Chris J Palmstrøm4,6,7, Erik P A M Bakkers3, S Das Sarma2, Leo P Kouwenhoven1,8.
Abstract
Majorana zero-modes-a type of localized quasiparticle-hold great promise for topological quantum computing. Tunnelling spectroscopy in electrical transport is the primary tool for identifying the presence of Majorana zero-modes, for instance as a zero-bias peak in differential conductance. The height of the Majorana zero-bias peak is predicted to be quantized at the universal conductance value of 2e2/h at zero temperature (where e is the charge of an electron and h is the Planck constant), as a direct consequence of the famous Majorana symmetry in which a particle is its own antiparticle. The Majorana symmetry protects the quantization against disorder, interactions and variations in the tunnel coupling. Previous experiments, however, have mostly shown zero-bias peaks much smaller than 2e2/h, with a recent observation of a peak height close to 2e2/h. Here we report a quantized conductance plateau at 2e2/h in the zero-bias conductance measured in indium antimonide semiconductor nanowires covered with an aluminium superconducting shell. The height of our zero-bias peak remains constant despite changing parameters such as the magnetic field and tunnel coupling, indicating that it is a quantized conductance plateau. We distinguish this quantized Majorana peak from possible non-Majorana origins by investigating its robustness to electric and magnetic fields as well as its temperature dependence. The observation of a quantized conductance plateau strongly supports the existence of Majorana zero-modes in the system, consequently paving the way for future braiding experiments that could lead to topological quantum computing.Entities:
Year: 2018 PMID: 29590094 DOI: 10.1038/nature26142
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Nature ISSN: 0028-0836 Impact factor: 49.962