Work

Topological superconducting phases in disordered quantum wires with strong spin-orbit coupling

Year: 2011

Type: article

Abstract: Zeeman fields can drive semiconductor quantum wires with strong spin-orbit coupling and in proximity to $s$-wave superconductors into a topological phase which supports end Majorana fermions and offers an attractive platform for realizing topological quantum information processing. Here, we investigate how potential disorder affects the topological phase by a combination of analytical and numerical approaches. Most prominently, we find that the robustness of the topological phase against disorder depends sensitively and nonmonotonously on the Zeeman field applied to the wire.

Source: Physical Review B

DOI: 10.1103/physrevb.84.144526

Authors: Piet W. Brouwer, Mathias Duckheim, Alessandro Romito, Felix von Oppen

Institution: Freie Universität Berlin

Language: English

Topic: Topological Materials and Phenomena

Subfield: Condensed Matter Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

Award: G6850543347