Universal spin-triplet superconducting correlations of Majorana fermions

Xin Liu, Jay D. Sau, and S. Das Sarma
Phys. Rev. B 92, 014513 – Published 27 July 2015
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Abstract

We establish that Majorana fermions on the boundary of topological superconductors have only spin-triplet superconducting correlations independent of whether the bulk superconducting gap is spin singlet or triplet. This is universal for time-reversal broken (respected) topological superconductors (TSCs) with an odd number of (pairs of) Majorana fermions on the boundary. Consequently, resonant Andreev reflection induced by Majorana fermions only occurs in spin-triplet channels and always injects spin-triplet Cooper pairs into the leads. This spin-triplet condensate results in a spin-orbit coupling (SOC) controlled oscillatory critical current without a 0π transition in the TSC/SOC-semiconductor/TSC Josephson junction. The observation of this unique current-phase relation can serve as the definitive signal for Majorana fermions. Our study shows a technique for manipulating Majorana fermions based on their spin-triplet superconducting correlations.

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  • Received 2 February 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.92.014513

©2015 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Xin Liu*, Jay D. Sau, and S. Das Sarma

  • Condensed Matter Theory Center and Joint Quantum Institute, Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742-4111, USA

  • *phyliuxin@gmail.com

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Issue

Vol. 92, Iss. 1 — 1 July 2015

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