Majorana zero-modes-a type of localized quasiparticle-hold great promise for topological quantum computing. Tunnelling spectroscopy in electrical transport is the primary tool for identifying the presence of Majorana zero-modes, for instance as a zero-bias peak in differential conductance. The height of the Majorana zero-bias peak is predicted to be quantized at the universal conductance value of 2e/h at zero temperature (where e is the charge of an electron and h is the Planck constant), as a direct consequence of the famous Majorana symmetry in which a particle is its own antiparticle. The Majorana symmetry protects the quantization against disorder, interactions and variations in the tunnel coupling. Previous experiments, however, have mostly shown zero-bias peaks much smaller than 2e/h, with a recent observation of a peak height close to 2e/h. Here we report a quantized conductance plateau at 2e/h in the zero-bias conductance measured in indium antimonide semiconductor nanowires covered with an aluminium superconducting shell. The height of our zero-bias peak remains constant despite changing parameters such as the magnetic field and tunnel coupling, indicating that it is a quantized conductance plateau. We distinguish this quantized Majorana peak from possible non-Majorana origins by investigating its robustness to electric and magnetic fields as well as its temperature dependence. The observation of a quantized conductance plateau strongly supports the existence of Majorana zero-modes in the system, consequently paving the way for future braiding experiments that could lead to topological quantum computing.
Semiconductor nanowires provide an ideal platform for various low-dimensional quantum devices. In particular, topological phases of matter hosting non-Abelian quasiparticles can emerge when a semiconductor nanowire with strong spin-orbit coupling is brought in contact with a superconductor 1,2 . To fully exploit the potential of non-Abelian anyons for topological quantum computing, they need to be exchanged in a wellcontrolled braiding operation 3-8 . Essential hardware for braiding is a network of singlecrystalline nanowires coupled to superconducting islands. Here, we demonstrate a technique for generic bottom-up synthesis of complex quantum devices with a special focus on nanowire networks having a predefined number of superconducting islands.Structural analysis confirms the high crystalline quality of the nanowire junctions, as well as an epitaxial superconductor-semiconductor interface. Quantum transport measurements of nanowire "hashtags" reveal Aharonov-Bohm and weak-antilocalization effects, indicating a phase coherent system with strong spin-orbit coupling. In addition, a 2 proximity-induced hard superconducting gap is demonstrated in these hybrid superconductor-semiconductor nanowires, highlighting the successful materials development necessary for a first braiding experiment. Our approach opens new avenues for the realization of epitaxial 3-dimensional quantum device architectures.Majorana Zero Modes (MZMs) are predicted to emerge once a superconductor (SC) is coupled to a semiconductor nanowire (NW) with a strong spin-orbit interaction (SOI) in an external magnetic field 1,2 . InSb NWs are a prime choice for this application due to the large Landé g-factor (~50) and strong Rashba SOI 9 , crucial for realization of MZMs. In addition, InSb nanowires generally show high mobility and ballistic transport [10][11][12] . Indeed, signatures of Majorana zero modes (MZMs) have been detected in hybrid superconductor-semiconductor InSb and InAs NW systems 11,[13][14][15] . Multiple schemes for topological quantum computing based on braiding of MZMs have been reported, all employing hybrid NW networks 3-8 .Top-down fabrication of InSb NW networks is an attractive route towards scalability 16 , however, the large lattice mismatch between InSb and insulating growth substrates limits the crystal quality. An alternative approach is bottom-up synthesis of out-of-plane NW networks which, due to their large surface-to-volume ratio, effectively relieve strain on their sidewalls, enabling the growth of single-crystalline NWs on highly lattice-mismatched substrates [17][18][19] .Recently, different schemes have been reported for merging NWs into networks [20][21][22] .Unfortunately, these structures are either not single-crystalline, due to a mismatch of the crystal structure of the wires with that of the substrate (i.e. hexagonal NWs on a cubic substrate) 22 , or the yield is low due to the limited control over the multiple accessible growth directions (the yield decreases with the number of junctions in the network) 23 ....
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