Spin-polarized Majorana zero-modes in double zigzag honeycomb nanoribbons

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that double zigzag honeycomb nanoribbons can host spin-polarized Majorana zero modes at their ends, with potential applications in topological quantum computing and spintronics.

Contribution

It introduces a minimal model showing spin-polarized MZMs in double zHNRs and explores their topological phase transitions controlled by chemical potential.

Findings

Double zHNRs can host spin-polarized MZMs at their ends.

Topological phase transitions are characterized by winding numbers.

Hybrid systems with s-wave superconductors are promising for experiments.

Abstract

We study the emergence of Majorana zero modes (MZMs) at the ends of a finite double zigzag honeycomb nanoribbon (zHNR). We show that a double zHNR geometry can host spin-polarized MZMs at its ends. We considered a minimal model composed by first nearest neighbor hopping, Rashba spin-orbit coupling (RSOC), p-wave superconducting pairing, and an applied external magnetic field (EMF). The energy spectrum regions with either spin up or down MZMs belong to distinct topological phase transitions characterized by their corresponding winding numbers and can be accessed by tunning the chemical potential of the nanoribbons. Hybrid systems constituted by zHNRs deposited on conventional s-wave superconductors are potential candidates for experimentally realizing the proposal. The spin's discrimination of MZMs suggests a possible route for performing topological-conventional qubit operations using Majorana spintronics.