Binding zero modes with fluxons in Josephson junctions of time-reversal invariant topological superconductors

We study the joint dynamics of the phase bias $\ensuremath{\phi}$ and the propagating Majorana fermions of the edge modes in Josephson junctions containing two-dimensional time-reversal invariant topological superconductors (TRITOPS). We consider TRITOPS-TRITOPS junctions, as well as junctions between topological and nontopological superconductors (TRITOPS-S). Both types of junctions are described by effective Dirac Hamiltonians with a $\ensuremath{\phi}$-dependent mass. We analyze the effect of the phase fluctuations in the junction, as well as solitonic solutions of $\ensuremath{\phi}$ generated by fluxons trapped in the junction. We show that these solitons generate a spatial-dependent mass with a sign change akin to the Jackiw-Rebbi model. This enables the formation of zero-energy fermionic states localized at the fluxon. For the TRITOPS-TRITOPS junction these consist of a Kramers pair of Majorana modes, while for the TRITOPS-S one, there is a single Majorana fermion. The localized bound states hybridize in soliton-antisoliton configurations. Depending on the occupation state, these modes generate an effective attraction or repulsion in the dynamics of the soliton-antisoliton collision.

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Journal
Physical review. B./Physical review. B
Published
2024-12-30
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.110.245427
Primary Topic
Topological Materials and Phenomena
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Binding zero modes with fluxons in Josephson junctions of time-reversal invariant topological superconductors

Jörg Schmalian, Alexander Shnirman, Liliana Arrachea, G. Rodríguez Ruiz et al.
Physical review. B./Physical review. B
Topological Materials and Phenomena
article

Binding zero modes with fluxons in Josephson junctions of time-reversal invariant topological superconductors

Jörg Schmalian, Alexander Shnirman, Liliana Arrachea, G. Rodríguez Ruiz, Adrian Reich
article en

Abstract

We study the joint dynamics of the phase bias $\ensuremath{\phi}$ and the propagating Majorana fermions of the edge modes in Josephson junctions containing two-dimensional time-reversal invariant topological superconductors (TRITOPS). We consider TRITOPS-TRITOPS junctions, as well as junctions between topological and nontopological superconductors (TRITOPS-S). Both types of junctions are described by effective Dirac Hamiltonians with a $\ensuremath{\phi}$-dependent mass. We analyze the effect of the phase fluctuations in the junction, as well as solitonic solutions of $\ensuremath{\phi}$ generated by fluxons trapped in the junction. We show that these solitons generate a spatial-dependent mass with a sign change akin to the Jackiw-Rebbi model. This enables the formation of zero-energy fermionic states localized at the fluxon. For the TRITOPS-TRITOPS junction these consist of a Kramers pair of Majorana modes, while for the TRITOPS-S one, there is a single Majorana fermion. The localized bound states hybridize in soliton-antisoliton configurations. Depending on the occupation state, these modes generate an effective attraction or repulsion in the dynamics of the soliton-antisoliton collision.

Physical review. B./Physical review. BVol. 110(24)
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (DE), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (AR), Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia (ES), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (PE)
Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Fondo para la Investigación Científica y Tecnológica
Openalex Percentile: Top 78%
Topological Materials and Phenomena
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