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Generic quantized zero-bias conductance peaks in superconductor-semiconductor hybrid structures

Haining Pan, William S. Cole, Jay D. Sau, S. Das Sarma

2020Physical review. B./Physical review. B85 citationsDOIOpen Access PDF

Abstract

We show theoretically that quantized zero-bias conductance peaks should be ubiquitous in superconductor-semiconductor hybrids by employing a zero-dimensional random matrix model with continuous tuning parameters. We demonstrate that a normal metal-superconductor (NS) junction conductance spectra can be generically obtained in this model replicating all features seen in recent experimental results. The theoretical quantized conductance peaks, which explicitly do not arise from spatially isolated Majorana zero modes, are easily found by preparing a contour plot of conductance over several independent tuning parameters, mimicking the effect of Zeeman splitting and voltages on gates near the junction. This suggests that, even stable apparently quantized conductance peaks need not correspond to isolated Majorana modes; rather, the a priori expectation should be that such quantized peaks generically occupy a significant fraction of the high-dimensional tuning parameter space that characterizes the NS tunneling experiments.

Topics & Concepts

ConductanceMAJORANAPhysicsQuantum tunnellingSuperconductivityCondensed matter physicsParameter spaceZeeman effectQuantum mechanicsZero (linguistics)Conductance quantumSemiconductorMathematicsQuantum point contactPhilosophyQuantum wellLinguisticsMagnetic fieldStatisticsLaserTopological Materials and PhenomenaAdvanced Condensed Matter PhysicsPhysics of Superconductivity and Magnetism
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