Topological Superconducting State of Lead Nanowires in an External Magnetic Field

J. G. Rodrigo; V. Crespo; H. Suderow; S. Vieira; F. Guinea

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.237003

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Topological Superconducting State of Lead Nanowires in an External Magnetic Field

J. G. Rodrigo, V. Crespo, H. Suderow, S. Vieira, F. Guinea

DOI 10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.237003 · Physical Review Letters

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Abstract

Superconductors with an odd number of bands crossing the Fermi energy have topologically protected Andreev states at interfaces, including Majorana states in one-dimensional geometries. We propose here that repeated indentation of a Pb tip on a Pb substrate can lead to nanowires such that the resulting superconducting system has novel topological properties. We have analyzed a number of conductance curves obtained in different nanowires, and observe, in a few cases, very peculiar dependence of the critical current on magnetic field. In these cases, the form of multiple Andreev reflections observed at finite voltages are compatible with topological superconductivity. The nanowires give a low number of 1D channels, large spin orbit coupling, and a sizable Zeeman energy, provided that the applied magnetic field is higher than the Pb bulk critical field.

Source-reported materials — not catalogue approval

Formula	Reported Tc (K)	Pressure (GPa)	Type
Pb Archive — visibility unverified Source-occurrence policy only; no material identity or catalogue acceptance is inferred from the formula.	7.2	Pressure unresolved	unknown