Quantized Majorana conductance

Hao Zhang*, Chun Xiao Liu, Sasa Gazibegovic, Di Xu, John A. Logan, Guanzhong Wang, Nick Van Loo, Jouri D.S. Bommer, Michiel W.A. De Moor, Diana Car, Roy L.M. Op Het Veld, Petrus J. Van Veldhoven, Sebastian Koelling, Marcel A. Verheijen, Mihir Pendharkar, Daniel J. Pennachio, Borzoyeh Shojaei, Joon Sue Lee, Chris J. Palmstrøm, Erik P.A.M. BakkersS. Das Sarma, Leo P. Kouwenhoven

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

434 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

Majorana zero-modes - a type of localized quasiparticle - hold great promise for topological quantum computing. Tunnelling spectroscopy in electrical transport is the primary tool for identifying the presence of Majorana zero-modes, for instance as a zero-bias peak in differential conductance. The height of the Majorana zero-bias peak is predicted to be quantized at the universal conductance value of 2e 2 /h at zero temperature (where e is the charge of an electron and h is the Planck constant), as a direct consequence of the famous Majorana symmetry in which a particle is its own antiparticle. The Majorana symmetry protects the quantization against disorder, interactions and variations in the tunnel coupling. Previous experiments, however, have mostly shown zero-bias peaks much smaller than 2e 2 /h, with a recent observation of a peak height close to 2e 2 /h. Here we report a quantized conductance plateau at 2e 2 /h in the zero-bias conductance measured in indium antimonide semiconductor nanowires covered with an aluminium superconducting shell. The height of our zero-bias peak remains constant despite changing parameters such as the magnetic field and tunnel coupling, indicating that it is a quantized conductance plateau. We distinguish this quantized Majorana peak from possible non-Majorana origins by investigating its robustness to electric and magnetic fields as well as its temperature dependence. The observation of a quantized conductance plateau strongly supports the existence of Majorana zero-modes in the system, consequently paving the way for future braiding experiments that could lead to topological quantum computing.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)74-79
Number of pages6
JournalNature
Volume556
Issue number7699
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 5 Apr 2018

Bibliographical note

Accepted Author Manuscript
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Keywords

  • Electronic properties and materials
  • Nanowires
  • Superconducting properties and materials

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