Engineering topological superconductors using surface atomic-layer/molecule hybrid materials

TL;DR

This paper explores how surface atomic-layer superconductors, with their unique symmetry-breaking and surface sensitivity, can be engineered using surface modifications to realize topological superconductors hosting Majorana fermions.

Contribution

It demonstrates the potential of SAL superconductors to be engineered into topological phases through surface adsorption and symmetry manipulation, advancing the development of Majorana-based quantum devices.

Findings

Surface atomic-layer superconductors can host topological phases.

Surface adsorption influences superconducting and topological properties.

Potential realization of Majorana fermions in engineered SAL systems.

Abstract

Surface atomic-layer (SAL) superconductors consisting of epitaxially grown metal adatoms on a clean semiconductor surface have been recently established. Compared to conventional metal thin films, they have two important features: i) space-inversion symmetry breaking throughout the system and ii) high sensitivity to surface adsorption of foreign species. These potentially lead to manifestation of the Rashba effect and a Zeeman field exerted by adsorbed magnetic organic molecules. After introduction of archetypical SAL superconductor Si(111)-(root7xroot3)-In, we describe how these features are utilized to engineer topological superconductor with Majorana fermions, and discuss its promises and expected challenges.