SKM 2021 – scientific programme
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HL: Fachverband Halbleiterphysik
HL 8: Poster Session II
HL 8.19: Poster
Tuesday, September 28, 2021, 10:00–13:00, P
Topological superconductivity in (3D) topological insulator-based hybrid devices — •Dennis Heffels1, Declan Burke2, Malcolm R. Connolly2, Peter Schüffelgen1, Kristof Moors1, and Detlev Grützmacher1 — 1Peter Grünberg Institut (PGI-9), Forschungszentrum Jülich — 2Imperial College London
Topological insulator (TI) nanostructures have been proposed as a host system for one-dimensional topological superconductivity. This is made possible by the special properties of the TI surface states in combination with an external magnetic field and proximity-induced superconductivity. Recently, however, it was shown that specific conditions are required to realize fully gapped topological superconductivity. In this talk, I will report on tight-binding simulations with Kwant that allow for a detailed investigation of the formation of a topological band gap in experimentally realizable hybrid devices. We model the TI hybrid device in full three-dimensional detail which allows us to compare different device layouts and proximitization schemes. In general, we find that a topological gap can be opened by breaking the transverse symmetry of the system. One possibility for such a symmetry breaking is the consideration of a ribbon which is only proximitized via the top surface. Our simulation approach also allows us to optimize the device layout in order to maximize the size of the gap. I will also comment on related experimental activities on TI nanostructure-based hybrid devices and tunnel junctions as well as magnetic TI-based hybrid devices.