High-Temperature Majorana Zero Modes

Abstract

We employ analytical and numerical approaches to show that unpaired Majorana zero modes can occur in cores of Abrikosov vortices at the interface between a three-dimensional topological insulator, such as Bi_{2}Se_{3}, and a twisted bilayer of high-T_{c} cuprate superconductor, such as Bi_{2}Sr_{2}CaCu_{2}O_{8+δ}. When the twist angle is close to 45° the latter has been predicted to form a fully gapped topological superconductor up to temperatures approaching its native T_{c}≃90 K. Majorana zero modes in these structures will persist up to unprecedented high temperatures and, depending on the quality of the interface, may be protected by gaps with larger magnitudes than other candidate systems.

Topics & Concepts