Realizing Topological Superconductivity with Superlattices

Abstract

The realization of topological superconductors (SCs) in one or two dimensions is a highly pursued goal. Prominent proposed realization schemes include semiconductor/superconductor heterostructures and set stringent constraints on the chemical potential of the system. However, the ability to keep the chemical potential in the required range while in the presence of an adjacent SC and its accompanied screening effects, is a great experimental challenge. In this work, we study a SC lattice structure in which the SC is deposited periodically on a one- or two-dimensional sample. We demonstrate that this realization platform overcomes the challenge of controlling the chemical potential in the presence of the superconductor's electrostatic screening. We show how Majorana bound states emerge at the ends of a one-dimensional system proximity coupled to a one-dimensional SC lattice, and move on to present a SC-lattice-based realization of the two-dimensional px+ipy SC, hosting chiral Majorana modes at its edges. In particular, we establish that even when assuming the worst case of absolute screening, in which the chemical potential under the SC is completely unaffected by the external gate potential, the topological phase can be reached by tuning the chemical potential in the area not covered by the SC. Finally, we briefly discuss possible effects of Coulomb blockade on the properties of the system.

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• Superconducting, Insulating, and Anomalous Metallic Regimes in a Gated Two-Dimensional Semiconductor-Superconductor Array
• Trivial Andreev band mimicking topological bulk gap reopening in the non-local conductance of long Rashba nanowires
• Enhanced topological superconductivity in spatially modulated planar Josephson junctions
• Effects of the electrostatic environment on superlattice Majorana nanowires
• Progress in superconductor-semiconductor topological Josephson junctions
• Enhanced topological protection in planar quasi-one-dimensional channels with periodically-modulated width
• Localization and oscillations of Majorana fermions in a two-dimensional electron gas coupled with $d$-wave superconductors
• Majorana bound states in vortex lattices on iron-based superconductors
• Time-reversal-invariant topological superconductivity
• Energy spectrum, the spin polarization, and the optical selection rules of the Kronig-Penney superlattice model with spin-orbit coupling
• Universal phase diagram of topological superconductors subjected to magnetic flux
• Topological phase transition driven by magnetic field in one-dimensional topological superconductor rings
• Moiré-enabled topological superconductivity
• Topological superconducting phase in a non-Hermitian Kitaev chain with staggered pairing imbalance