Superconductivity and Vortices in Topological Insulator Nanoribbons

Interfacing topological insulators with superconductivity provides a possible route towards an analog of Majorana fermions in condensed matter. We have carried out two key steps in the search for these exotic quantum excitations. We demonstrated proximity-induced superconductivity in topological insulator (Bi2Se3) nanoribbons interfaced with super-conducting electrodes. We also provided tantalizing evidence for the possible presence of vortices in the topological insulator.

D. M. Zhang, et al., Phys. Rev. B 84, 165120 (2011)

Selected as Editor's Suggestion