Supercurrent-induced Majorana bound states in a planar geometry
A.A. De Almeida Nascimento e Melo (TU Delft - QN/Akhmerov Group)
S. Rubbert (TU Delft - QN/Akhmerov Group)
Anton Akhmerov (TU Delft - QN/Akhmerov Group)
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Abstract
We propose a new setup for creating Majorana bound states in a two-dimensional electron gas Josephson junction. Our proposal relies exclusively on a supercurrent parallel to the junction as a mechanism of breaking time-reversal symmetry. We show that combined with spin-orbit coupling, supercurrents induce a Zeeman-like spin splitting. Further, we identify a new conserved quantity---charge-momentum parity---that prevents the opening of the topological gap by the supercurrent in a straight Josephson junction. We propose breaking this conservation law by adding a third superconductor, introducing a periodic potential, or making the junction zigzag-shaped. By comparing the topological phase diagrams and practical limitations of these systems we identify the zigzag-shaped junction as the most promising option.
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