Signatures of hybridization of multiple Majorana zero modes in a vortex

Tengteng Liu, Chun Yu Wan, Hao Yang, Yujun Zhao, Bangjin Xie, Weiyan Zheng, Zhaoxia Yi, Dandan Guan, Shiyong Wang, Hao Zheng, Canhua Liu, Liang Fu, Junwei Liu (), Yaoyi Li () and Jinfeng Jia ()
Additional contact information
Tengteng Liu: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Chun Yu Wan: Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Hao Yang: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Yujun Zhao: Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Bangjin Xie: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Weiyan Zheng: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Zhaoxia Yi: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Dandan Guan: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Shiyong Wang: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Hao Zheng: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Canhua Liu: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Liang Fu: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Junwei Liu: Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Yaoyi Li: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Jinfeng Jia: Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Nature, 2024, vol. 633, issue 8028, 71-76

Abstract: Abstract Majorana zero modes (MZMs) are emergent zero-energy topological quasiparticles that are their own antiparticles1,2. Detected MZMs are spatially separated and electrically neutral, so producing hybridization between MZMs is extremely challenging in superconductors3,4. Here, we report the magnetic field response of vortex bound states in superconducting topological crystalline insulator SnTe (001) films. Several MZMs were predicted to coexist in a single vortex due to magnetic mirror symmetry. Using a scanning tunnelling microscope equipped with a three-axis vector magnet, we found that the zero-bias peak (ZBP) in a single vortex exhibits an apparent anisotropic response even though the magnetic field is weak. The ZBP can robustly extend a long distance of up to approximately 100 nm at the (001) surface when the magnetic field is parallel to the ( $$1\bar{1}0$$ 1 1 ¯ 0 )-type mirror plane, otherwise it displays an asymmetric splitting. Our systematic simulations demonstrate that the anisotropic response cannot be reproduced with trivial ZBPs. Although the different MZMs cannot be directly distinguished due to the limited energy resolution in our experiments, our comparisons between experimental measurements and theoretical simulations strongly support the existence and hybridization of symmetry-protected multiple MZMs. Our work demonstrates a way to hybridize different MZMs by controlling the orientation of the magnetic field and expands the types of MZM available for tuning topological states.

Date: 2024
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07857-4 Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:nature:v:633:y:2024:i:8028:d:10.1038_s41586-024-07857-4

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.nature.com/

DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07857-4

Access Statistics for this article

Nature is currently edited by Magdalena Skipper

More articles in Nature from Nature
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().