Spin-orbit Energies in Etch-Confined Superconductor-Semiconductor Nanowires

TL;DR

This study investigates the spin-orbit energies in etch-confined superconductor-semiconductor nanowires through magneto-transport and tunnel spectroscopy, providing insights into their potential for Majorana qubits.

Contribution

It introduces a method to measure and analyze spin-orbit interactions in 1D superconductor-semiconductor nanowires, advancing understanding of their quantum properties.

Findings

Identified 1D sub-bands via tunnel spectroscopy.

Quantified spin-orbit interaction components.

Assessed nanowires' suitability for Majorana qubits.

Abstract

We report magneto-transport measurements of quasi-1-dimensional (1D) Al-InAs nanowires produced via etching of a hybrid superconductor-semiconductor two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG). Tunnel spectroscopy measurements above the superconducting gap provide a means of identifying the 1D sub-bands associated with the confined 1D region. Fitting the data to a model that includes the different components of the spin-orbit interaction (SOI) reveals their strength, of interest for evaluating the suitability of superconductor-semiconductor 2DEG for realizing Majorana qubits.