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Evidence of topological superconductivity in planar Josephson junctions

Author

Listed:
  • Antonio Fornieri

    (University of Copenhagen and Microsoft Quantum Lab Copenhagen)

  • Alexander M. Whiticar

    (University of Copenhagen and Microsoft Quantum Lab Copenhagen)

  • F. Setiawan

    (The University of Chicago)

  • Elías Portolés

    (University of Copenhagen and Microsoft Quantum Lab Copenhagen)

  • Asbjørn C. C. Drachmann

    (University of Copenhagen and Microsoft Quantum Lab Copenhagen)

  • Anna Keselman

    (Station Q, Microsoft Research)

  • Sergei Gronin

    (Purdue University
    Purdue University)

  • Candice Thomas

    (Purdue University
    Purdue University)

  • Tian Wang

    (Purdue University
    Purdue University)

  • Ray Kallaher

    (Purdue University
    Purdue University)

  • Geoffrey C. Gardner

    (Purdue University
    Purdue University)

  • Erez Berg

    (The University of Chicago
    Weizmann Institute of Science)

  • Michael J. Manfra

    (Purdue University
    Purdue University
    Purdue University
    Purdue University)

  • Ady Stern

    (Weizmann Institute of Science)

  • Charles M. Marcus

    (University of Copenhagen and Microsoft Quantum Lab Copenhagen)

  • Fabrizio Nichele

    (University of Copenhagen and Microsoft Quantum Lab Copenhagen
    IBM Research—Zurich)

Abstract

Majorana zero modes—quasiparticle states localized at the boundaries of topological superconductors—are expected to be ideal building blocks for fault-tolerant quantum computing1,2. Several observations of zero-bias conductance peaks measured by tunnelling spectroscopy above a critical magnetic field have been reported as experimental indications of Majorana zero modes in superconductor–semiconductor nanowires3–8. On the other hand, two-dimensional systems offer the alternative approach of confining Majorana channels within planar Josephson junctions, in which the phase difference φ between the superconducting leads represents an additional tuning knob that is predicted to drive the system into the topological phase at lower magnetic fields than for a system without phase bias9,10. Here we report the observation of phase-dependent zero-bias conductance peaks measured by tunnelling spectroscopy at the end of Josephson junctions realized on a heterostructure consisting of aluminium on indium arsenide. Biasing the junction to φ ≈ π reduces the critical field at which the zero-bias peak appears, with respect to φ = 0. The phase and magnetic-field dependence of the zero-energy states is consistent with a model of Majorana zero modes in finite-size Josephson junctions. As well as providing experimental evidence of phase-tuned topological superconductivity, our devices are compatible with superconducting quantum electrodynamics architectures11 and are scalable to the complex geometries needed for topological quantum computing9,12,13.

Suggested Citation

  • Antonio Fornieri & Alexander M. Whiticar & F. Setiawan & Elías Portolés & Asbjørn C. C. Drachmann & Anna Keselman & Sergei Gronin & Candice Thomas & Tian Wang & Ray Kallaher & Geoffrey C. Gardner & Er, 2019. "Evidence of topological superconductivity in planar Josephson junctions," Nature, Nature, vol. 569(7754), pages 89-92, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:569:y:2019:i:7754:d:10.1038_s41586-019-1068-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1068-8
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Sadashige Matsuo & Takaya Imoto & Tomohiro Yokoyama & Yosuke Sato & Tyler Lindemann & Sergei Gronin & Geoffrey C. Gardner & Sho Nakosai & Yukio Tanaka & Michael J. Manfra & Seigo Tarucha, 2023. "Phase-dependent Andreev molecules and superconducting gap closing in coherently-coupled Josephson junctions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. S. Reinhardt & T. Ascherl & A. Costa & J. Berger & S. Gronin & G. C. Gardner & T. Lindemann & M. J. Manfra & J. Fabian & D. Kochan & C. Strunk & N. Paradiso, 2024. "Link between supercurrent diode and anomalous Josephson effect revealed by gate-controlled interferometry," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, December.
    3. Daniel Z. Haxell & Marco Coraiola & Deividas Sabonis & Manuel Hinderling & Sofieke C. Kate & Erik Cheah & Filip Krizek & Rüdiger Schott & Werner Wegscheider & Wolfgang Belzig & Juan Carlos Cuevas & Fa, 2023. "Microwave-induced conductance replicas in hybrid Josephson junctions without Floquet—Andreev states," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-8, December.
    4. Tong Zhou & Matthieu C. Dartiailh & Kasra Sardashti & Jong E. Han & Alex Matos-Abiague & Javad Shabani & Igor Žutić, 2022. "Fusion of Majorana bound states with mini-gate control in two-dimensional systems," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    5. Gino V. Graziano & Mohit Gupta & Mihir Pendharkar & Jason T. Dong & Connor P. Dempsey & Chris Palmstrøm & Vlad S. Pribiag, 2022. "Selective control of conductance modes in multi-terminal Josephson junctions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.

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