Josephson-Majorana cycle in topological single-electron hybrid transistors

TL;DR

This paper investigates the Josephson-Majorana cycle in topological superconducting transistors, revealing a dominant charge transport mechanism involving Majorana bound states and coherent Cooper pair oscillations at low bias and temperature.

Contribution

It introduces and analyzes the Josephson-Majorana cycle as a new charge transport mechanism in topological single-electron transistors, highlighting the role of Majorana bound states.

Findings

Josephson-Majorana cycle dominates charge transport at low bias and temperature.

The cycle involves coherent oscillations of Cooper pairs and tunneling through Majorana states.

Non-local Majorana states emerge in a three-terminal configuration.

Abstract

Charge transport through a small topological superconducting island in contact with a normal and a superconducting electrode occurs through a cycle that involves coherent oscillations of Cooper pairs and tunneling in/out the normal electrode through a Majorana bound state, the Josephson-Majorana cycle. We illustrate this mechanism by studying the current-voltage characteristics of a superconductor-topological superconductor-normal metal single-electron transistor. At low bias and temperature the Josephson-Majorana cycle is the dominant mechanism for transport. We discuss a three-terminal configuration where the non-local character of the Majorana bound states is emergent.