Topological superconductivity with orbital effects in magnetic skyrmion based heterostructures

TL;DR

This paper explores how orbital effects induced by magnetic skyrmions influence topological superconductivity in heterostructures, finding that the topological phase remains stable, thus supporting their potential for Majorana fermion applications.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive analysis of orbital effects in skyrmion-superconductor systems, combining Ginzburg-Landau and Bogoliubov-De-Gennes theories to assess topological stability.

Findings

Orbital effects can induce superconducting vortices.

Topological phase remains stable despite orbital effects.

Skyrmion-superconductor structures are promising for topological quantum computing.

Abstract

Proximitizing magnetic textures and $s$-wave superconductors is becoming a platform for engineering topological superconductivity and Majorana fermions by the means of exchange processes. However, the consequences of orbital effects have not yet been fully taken into account. In this work, we investigate the magnetic skyrmion texture-induced orbital effects using a Ginzburg-Landau approach and clarify the conditions under which they can induce superconducting vortices. These orbital effects are then included in Bogoliubov-De-Gennes theory containing the exchange interaction, as well as superconducting vortices (when induced). We find that the topological phase is largely stable to all investigated effects, increasing the realistic promise of skyrmion-superconductor hybrid structures for realization of topological superconductivity.