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Aghaee et al. 2021 — InAs-Al Hybrid Devices Passing the Topological Gap Protocol

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Aghaee et al., PRB 104, 085403 (2021) — arXiv:2104.00659

Summary

Reports Coulomb blockade spectroscopy measurements on InAs-Al semiconductor-superconductor hybrid nanowire devices, contributing to the evidence base for topological Majorana zero modes. These zero-energy bound states at the ends of topological superconducting nanowires are proposed as the basis for topologically protected qubits.

Key Physics

  • Majorana zero modes: Non-Abelian anyons predicted at ends of 1D topological superconductors
  • Material platform: InAs nanowires with epitaxial Al shell — semiconductor provides spin-orbit coupling + Zeeman splitting, Al provides proximity-induced superconductivity
  • Topological gap protocol: Systematic check for topological phase via Coulomb blockade spectroscopy
  • Challenge: Distinguishing true topological Majoranas from trivial Andreev bound states remains difficult

Significance for Quantum Computing

Majorana-based qubits would encode information non-locally in pairs of Majorana zero modes, providing topological protection against local perturbations. However, experimental realization remains controversial and unconfirmed as of 2026.

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