Majorana fermions manifested as interface-states in semiconductor hybrid structures

TL;DR

This paper proposes a new method to detect Majorana fermions in semiconductor hybrid structures through interface-bound states, providing analytical insights and experimental parameter estimates for direct observation.

Contribution

It introduces an alternative detection approach for Majorana fermions via interface-bound states, expanding beyond vortex core zero-energy states.

Findings

Interface-bound states can serve as signatures of Majorana fermions.

Analytical estimates of experimental parameters for detection.

Potential for direct observation via conductance spectroscopy or STM.

Abstract

Motivated by recent proposals for the generation of Majorana fermions in semiconducting hybrid structures, we examine possible experimental fingerprints of such excitations. Whereas previous works mainly have focused on zero-energy states in vortex cores in this context, we demonstrate analytically an alternative route to detection of Majorana excitations in semiconducting hybrid structures: interface-bound states that may be probed directly via conductance spectroscopy or STM-measurements. We estimate the necessary experimental parameters required for observation of our predictions.