Proximity effect can induce the energy gap rather than superconducting pair potential

TL;DR

This paper discusses how the proximity effect in certain superconductor/semiconductor/ferromagnetic-insulator structures induces an energy gap without creating a superconducting pair potential, challenging the realization of topological superconductivity.

Contribution

It clarifies that the proximity effect can induce an energy gap independently of the superconducting pair potential in specific heterostructures.

Findings

Proximity effect induces energy gap, not pair potential

Implications for topological superconductivity realization

Questions assumptions about proximity-induced superconductivity

Abstract

For an s-wave superconductor/semiconductor/ferromagnetic-insulator structure, the proximity effect can induce the energy gap in the semiconductor rather than the superconducting pair potential of its microscope Hamiltonian. As a result, it is questionable to realize topological superconducting states in that structure.