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Ballistic superconductivity in semiconductor nanowires

Author

Listed:
  • Hao Zhang

    (QuTech, Delft University of Technology
    Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology)

  • Önder Gül

    (QuTech, Delft University of Technology
    Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology)

  • Sonia Conesa-Boj

    (QuTech, Delft University of Technology
    Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology
    Eindhoven University of Technology)

  • Michał P. Nowak

    (QuTech, Delft University of Technology
    Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology
    Faculty of Physics and Applied Computer Science, AGH University of Science and Technology)

  • Michael Wimmer

    (QuTech, Delft University of Technology
    Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology)

  • Kun Zuo

    (QuTech, Delft University of Technology
    Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology)

  • Vincent Mourik

    (QuTech, Delft University of Technology
    Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology)

  • Folkert K. de Vries

    (QuTech, Delft University of Technology
    Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology)

  • Jasper van Veen

    (QuTech, Delft University of Technology
    Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology)

  • Michiel W. A. de Moor

    (QuTech, Delft University of Technology
    Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology)

  • Jouri D. S. Bommer

    (QuTech, Delft University of Technology
    Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology)

  • David J. van Woerkom

    (QuTech, Delft University of Technology
    Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology)

  • Diana Car

    (Eindhoven University of Technology)

  • Sébastien R Plissard

    (Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology
    Eindhoven University of Technology)

  • Erik P.A.M. Bakkers

    (QuTech, Delft University of Technology
    Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology
    Eindhoven University of Technology)

  • Marina Quintero-Pérez

    (QuTech, Delft University of Technology
    Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO))

  • Maja C. Cassidy

    (QuTech, Delft University of Technology
    Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology)

  • Sebastian Koelling

    (Eindhoven University of Technology)

  • Srijit Goswami

    (QuTech, Delft University of Technology
    Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology)

  • Kenji Watanabe

    (Advanced Materials Laboratory, National Institute for Materials Science)

  • Takashi Taniguchi

    (Advanced Materials Laboratory, National Institute for Materials Science)

  • Leo P. Kouwenhoven

    (QuTech, Delft University of Technology
    Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology
    Microsoft Station Q Delft)

Abstract

Semiconductor nanowires have opened new research avenues in quantum transport owing to their confined geometry and electrostatic tunability. They have offered an exceptional testbed for superconductivity, leading to the realization of hybrid systems combining the macroscopic quantum properties of superconductors with the possibility to control charges down to a single electron. These advances brought semiconductor nanowires to the forefront of efforts to realize topological superconductivity and Majorana modes. A prime challenge to benefit from the topological properties of Majoranas is to reduce the disorder in hybrid nanowire devices. Here we show ballistic superconductivity in InSb semiconductor nanowires. Our structural and chemical analyses demonstrate a high-quality interface between the nanowire and a NbTiN superconductor that enables ballistic transport. This is manifested by a quantized conductance for normal carriers, a strongly enhanced conductance for Andreev-reflecting carriers, and an induced hard gap with a significantly reduced density of states. These results pave the way for disorder-free Majorana devices.

Suggested Citation

  • Hao Zhang & Önder Gül & Sonia Conesa-Boj & Michał P. Nowak & Michael Wimmer & Kun Zuo & Vincent Mourik & Folkert K. de Vries & Jasper van Veen & Michiel W. A. de Moor & Jouri D. S. Bommer & David J. v, 2017. "Ballistic superconductivity in semiconductor nanowires," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms16025
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms16025
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    Cited by:

    1. Yiru Hao & Gu Zhang & Donghao Liu & Dong E. Liu, 2022. "Anomalous universal conductance as a hallmark of non-locality in a Majorana-hosted superconducting island," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-7, December.

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