Chin. Phys. Lett.  2023, Vol. 40 Issue (9): 097403    DOI: 10.1088/0256-307X/40/9/097403
CONDENSED MATTER: ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE, ELECTRICAL, MAGNETIC, AND OPTICAL PROPERTIES |
Majorana Corner Modes and Flat-Band Majorana Edge Modes in Superconductor/Topological-Insulator/Superconductor Junctions
Xiao-Ting Chen1†, Chun-Hui Liu2,3†, Dong-Hui Xu4,5*, and Chui-Zhen Chen1*
1Institute for Advanced Study and School of Physical Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
2Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
3School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
4Department of Physics, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
5Chongqing Key Laboratory for Strongly Coupled Physics, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
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Xiao-Ting Chen, Chun-Hui Liu, Dong-Hui Xu et al  2023 Chin. Phys. Lett. 40 097403
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Abstract Recently, superconductors with higher-order topology have stimulated extensive attention and research interest. Higher-order topological superconductors exhibit unconventional bulk-boundary correspondence, thus allow exotic lower-dimensional boundary modes, such as Majorana corner and hinge modes. However, higher-order topological superconductivity has yet to be found in naturally occurring materials. We investigate higher-order topology in a two-dimensional Josephson junction comprised of two s-wave superconductors separated by a topological insulator thin film. We find that zero-energy Majorana corner modes, a boundary fingerprint of higher-order topological superconductivity, can be achieved by applying magnetic field. When an in-plane Zeeman field is applied to the system, two corner modes appear in the superconducting junction. Furthermore, we also discover a two-dimensional nodal superconducting phase which supports flat-band Majorana edge modes connecting the bulk nodes. Importantly, we demonstrate that zero-energy Majorana corner modes are stable when increasing the thickness of topological insulator thin film.
Received: 05 June 2023      Published: 06 September 2023
PACS:  74.20.-z (Theories and models of superconducting state)  
  74.45.+c (Proximity effects; Andreev reflection; SN and SNS junctions)  
  74.25.N- (Response to electromagnetic fields)  
  74.50.+r (Tunneling phenomena; Josephson effects)  
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https://cpl.iphy.ac.cn/10.1088/0256-307X/40/9/097403       OR      https://cpl.iphy.ac.cn/Y2023/V40/I9/097403
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Xiao-Ting Chen
Chun-Hui Liu
Dong-Hui Xu
and Chui-Zhen Chen
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