Abstract
We study the proximity effect between an -wave superconductor and the surface states of a strong topological insulator. The resulting two-dimensional state resembles a spinless superconductor, but does not break time reversal symmetry. This state supports Majorana bound states at vortices. We show that linear junctions between superconductors mediated by the topological insulator form a nonchiral one-dimensional wire for Majorana fermions, and that circuits formed from these junctions provide a method for creating, manipulating, and fusing Majorana bound states.
- Received 11 July 2007
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.096407
©2008 American Physical Society