Majorana fermions have become an attractive topic of research due to their applications in topological quantum computing. Majorana zero modes (MZMs) are predicted to exist in the vortex core of topological superconductors. In recent years, candidate host systems have expanded from topological insulator films on s-wave superconductors (TI/SC) to iron-based Fe(Te,Se) superconductors. In both systems, evidence for the existence of MZMs in the vortex has been provided by scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (STM/STS) measurements. In this talk, I will summarize the related experimental and theoretical results for TI/SC heterostructures, then present more recent observations from an iron-based superconductor.
The Zoom link will be sent to the Graduate Student and PDRA mailing lists. If you are not on one of those lists and are interested in attending, please email Mark Hirsbrunner at hrsbrnn2@illinois.edu for the link.
