Sub-gap Fano resonances in a topological superconducting wire with on-site Coulomb interactions

TL;DR

This paper theoretically investigates sub-gap Fano resonances in a topological superconducting wire with Coulomb interactions, revealing how interference affects Majorana states and supporting topological phase stability.

Contribution

It introduces a self-consistent Hubbard I approach to model Coulomb interactions and uncovers the interplay between Fano resonances and Majorana states in topological wires.

Findings

Particle-hole symmetric resonances from Hubbard levels within the gap.

Quantum interference can diminish the Majorana resonance.

Coulomb interactions support the topological phase.

Abstract

We consider theoretically a $1D$-semiconducting wire with strong Rashba interaction in proximity with $s$-wave superconductor, driven into topological phase by external magnetic field. Additionally, we take into account on-site Coulomb interactions inside the wire. The system is modelled by a tight binding Hamiltonian with Rashba hopping term and induced $s$-wave superconductivity. Calculations are performed utilizing recursive Green's function method, and Coulomb interactions are treated selfconsistently within Hubbard $I$ approximation. For the Hubbard levels residing within $p$-wave superconducting gap, particle-hole symmetric four-resonance structure develops in the density of states, apart from Majorana resonance. One pair of particle-hole symmetric resonances is created by the discrete $II$-Hubbard levels of the particular site, and the second pair of Hubbard sub-bands originates from recursive summation over the sites of the wire. Quantum interference between both types of pairs of states creates in-gap charge-conjugated Fano resonances with opposite asymmetry factors. We demonstrate that when quantum interference is dominated by two-particle tunneling, the Majorana resonance is strongly diminished, while it is not altered when single-particle tunneling dominates in interference process. We also discuss some consequences for experimental distinction of true Majorana states, and show that on-site Coulomb interactions support the appearance of topological phase.