Topological superconductivity in proximity to type-II superconductors

TL;DR

This paper explores how vortices in type-II superconductors affect the topological superconducting phase in proximitized one-dimensional systems, highlighting challenges to Majorana mode protection and proposing strategies to mitigate these effects.

Contribution

It investigates the impact of vortices on topological superconductivity in proximity-coupled systems and discusses methods to preserve Majorana modes.

Findings

Vortices can compromise Majorana mode protection.

Strategies to circumvent vortex-induced detrimental effects.

Relevance to topological phases in quantum Hall edge states.

Abstract

One-dimensional systems proximity-coupled to a superconductor can be driven into a topological superconducting phase by an external magnetic field. Here, we investigate the effect of vortices created by the magnetic field in a type-II superconductor providing the proximity effect. We identify different ways in which the topological protection of Majorana modes can be compromised and discuss strategies to circumvent these detrimental effects. Our findings are also relevant to topological phases of proximitized quantum Hall edge states.