Concomitant opening of a bulk-gap with an emerging possible Majorana zero mode

Abstract

Majorana quasiparticles are generally detected in a 1D topological superconductor by tunneling electrons into its edge, with an emergent zero-bias conductance peak (ZBCP). However, such a ZBCP can also result from other mechanisms, hence, additional verifications are required. Since the emergence of a Majorana must be accompanied by an opening of a topological gap in the bulk, two simultaneous measurements are performed: one in the bulk and another at the edge of a 1D InAs nanowire coated with epitaxial aluminum. Only under certain experimental parameters, a closing of the superconducting bulk-gap that is followed by its reopening, appears simultaneously with a ZBCP at the edge. Such events suggest the occurrence of a topologically non-trivial phase. Yet, we also find that ZBCPs are observed under different tuning parameters without simultaneous reopening of a bulk-gap. This demonstrates the importance of simultaneous probing of bulk and edge in the identification of Majorana edge-states.

Abstract of "Concomitant opening of a bulk-gap with an emerging possible Majorana zero mode" by Anna Grivnin, Ella Bor, Moty Heiblum et al., https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-09771-0, used under its Creative Commons Attribution license (CC-BY); markup removed, otherwise unmodified.