Signatures of Majorana Fermions in Hybrid Superconductor-Semiconductor Nanowire Devices

Title	Signatures of Majorana Fermions in Hybrid Superconductor-Semiconductor Nanowire Devices
Authors	V. Mourik, K. Zuo, S. M. Frolov, S. R. Plissard, E. P. A. M. Bakkers, L. P. Kouwenhoven
Magazine	Science
Date	04/12/2012
DOI	10.1126/science.1222360
Introduction	Majorana fermions, particles that are their own antiparticles, have been theorised to exist in topological superconductors. This study presents electrical measurements of indium antimonide nanowires, linked with a normal gold electrode and a superconducting niobium titanium nitride electrode. By adjusting gate voltages, electron density and tunnel barrier between contacts are controlled. Under magnetic fields around 100 millitesla, bound midgap states at zero bias voltage appear, which persist even with varying magnetic fields and gate voltages. These results endorse the presence of Majorana fermions in nanowires connected to superconductors.
Quote	V. Mourik, K. Zuo and S. M. Frolov et al. Signatures of Majorana Fermions in Hybrid Superconductor-Semiconductor Nanowire Devices. Science. 2012. Vol. 336(6084):1003-1007. DOI: 10.1126/science.1222360
Element	Antimony (Sb) , Indium (In) , Niobium (Nb) , Titanium (Ti)
Materials	Semiconductors , Superconductors
Topics	Nanowires
Industry	Research & Laboratory , Electronics