Formation and electronic properties of InSb nanocrosses

Abstract

Signatures of Majorana fermions have recently been reported from measurements on hybrid superconductor-semiconductor nanowire devices. Majorana fermions are predicted to obey special quantum statistics, known as non-Abelian statistics. To probe this requires an exchange operation, in which two Majorana fermions are moved around one another, which requires at least a simple network of nanowires. Here, we report on the synthesis and electrical characterization of crosses of InSb nanowires. The InSb wires grow horizontally on flexible vertical stems, allowing nearby wires to meet and merge. In this way, near-planar single-crystalline nanocrosses are created, which can be measured by four electrical contacts. Our transport measurements show that the favourable properties of the InSb nanowire devices-high carrier mobility and the ability to induce superconductivity--are preserved in the cross devices. Our nanocrosses thus represent a promising system for the exchange of Majorana fermions.

Milestones Toward Majorana-Based Quantum Computing

“…In parallel, fabrication advances [24,25] have improved device quality, leading to cleaner transport characteristics [26] as well as surprisingly long quasiparticle poisoning times in proximitized nanowires [27] and related setups [28]. Branched wires, another key ingredient toward Majorana networks [29][30][31][32][33][34][35], have also been realized and investigated recently [36].…”

Tuning growth direction of catalyst-free InAs(Sb) nanowires with indium droplets

“…The change in growth direction is not only relevant to suppress stacking defects, but also facilitates the integration with CMOS platforms where (100) wafers are typically used. Furthermore, in situ engineering of the droplet has opened many more perspectives, such as the growth of novel nanostructures, including nano-sheets [28][29][30][31] and nanocrosses [10,32]. Branched nanostructures have received considerable attention as building blocks for braiding of Majorana Fermions [33].…”

Crossed Ga2O3/SnO2 Multiwire Architecture: A Local Structure Study with Nanometer Resolution

“…Recently, for example, InSb nanowires with controlled structural properties have enabled the formation of nanowire crosses designed to explore potential configurations for Majorana Fermion exchange. 31 Therefore, here we address such issues by characterizing a nanowire junction formed by Ga-doped SnO 2 nanowires that lie across one Cr-doped Ga 2 O 3 nanowire obtained in a one-step thermal evaporation method based on a vapor−solid (VS) mechanism. Five polymorphs of Ga 2 O 3 (α, β, γ, δ, and ε) have been reported so far, but only two phases (α and β) are well-known structures.…”