Detecting Majorana nonlocality using strongly coupled Majorana bound states

S. Rubbert and A. R. Akhmerov
Phys. Rev. B 94, 115430 – Published 22 September 2016
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Abstract

Majorana bound states (MBS) differ from the regular zero energy Andreev bound states in their nonlocal properties, since two MBS form a single fermion. We design strategies for detection of this nonlocality by using the phenomenon of Coulomb-mediated Majorana coupling in a setting which still retains falsifiability and does not require locally separated MBS. Focusing on the implementation of MBS based on the quantum spin Hall effect, we also design a way to probe Majoranas without the need to open a magnetic gap in the helical edge states. In the setup that we analyze, long range MBS coupling manifests in the h/e magnetic flux periodicity of tunneling conductance and supercurrent. While h/e is also the periodicity of Aharonov-Bohm effect and persistent current, we show how to ensure its Majorana origin by verifying that switching off the charging energy restores h/2e periodicity conventional for superconducting systems.

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  • Received 3 March 2016
  • Revised 27 May 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.94.115430

©2016 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

S. Rubbert and A. R. Akhmerov

  • Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, P.O. Box 4056, 2600 GA Delft, The Netherlands

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Issue

Vol. 94, Iss. 11 — 15 September 2016

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