Unified scattering approach to Josephson current and thermal noise in BCS and topological superconducting junctions

TL;DR

This paper develops a unified scattering framework to analyze Josephson current and thermal noise in both BCS and topological p-wave superconductor junctions, highlighting unique features related to Majorana modes.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive scattering state approach to compare BCS and topological superconductor junctions, emphasizing Majorana zero modes.

Findings

Characteristic features in Josephson current for topological junctions

Distinct thermal noise signatures in topological versus BCS junctions

Unified scattering method applicable to different superconductor types

Abstract

We present a unified description of a junction between $s$-wave (BCS) superconductors and a junction between $p$-wave superconductors in a topologically nontrivial phase, which relies on a scattering state expansion. We compute Josephson current and thermal noise in the two kinds of junction and exhibit some characteristic features for a junction of two topological superconductors hosting Majorana zero-energy modes.