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.
Authors
- Jörg Schmalian (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4142-2448)
- Alexander Shnirman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4937-8189)
- Liliana Arrachea (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7223-4610)
- G. Rodríguez Ruiz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0425-3772)
- Adrian Reich (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-5168-6598)
Institutions
- 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)
Publication Details
- 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
Funders
- Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
- Fondo para la Investigación Científica y Tecnológica