Topological superconductors: a review

TL;DR

This review provides a comprehensive overview of topological superconductors, covering their fundamental concepts, theoretical background, material realizations, and experimental signatures, with a focus on Majorana fermions and spin-orbit coupling.

Contribution

It offers a pedagogical synthesis of the theory, properties, and experimental status of topological superconductors, highlighting different routes to realize them and their connection to Majorana fermions.

Findings

Explanation of the relation between topological superconductivity and Majorana fermions

Summary of experimental signatures and current realizations of topological superconductors

Discussion of the role of spin-orbit coupling in achieving topological superconductivity

Abstract

This review elaborates pedagogically on the fundamental concept, basic theory, expected properties, and materials realizations of topological superconductors. The relation between topological superconductivity and Majorana fermions are explained, and the difference between dispersive Majorana fermions and a localized Majorana zero mode is emphasized. A variety of routes to topological superconductivity are explained with an emphasis on the roles of spin-orbit coupling. Present experimental situations and possible signatures of topological superconductivity are summarized with an emphasis on intrinsic topological superconductors.