Topological superconductivity and Majorana fermions in RKKY systems

Jelena Klinovaja; Peter Stano; Ali Yazdani; Daniel Loss

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.186805

Topological superconductivity and Majorana fermions in RKKY systems

Jelena Klinovaja, Peter Stano, Ali Yazdani, Daniel Loss

Princeton University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

316 Scopus citations

Abstract

We consider quasi-one-dimensional Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida (RKKY) systems in proximity to an s-wave superconductor. We show that a 2k_F peak in the spin susceptibility of the superconductor in the one-dimensional limit supports helical order of localized magnetic moments via RKKY interaction, where k_F is the Fermi wave vector. The magnetic helix is equivalent to a uniform magnetic field and very strong spin-orbit interaction (SOI) with an effective SOI length 1/2k_F. We find the conditions to establish such a magnetic state in atomic chains and semiconducting nanowires with magnetic atoms or nuclear spins. Generically, these systems are in a topological phase with Majorana fermions. The inherent self-tuning of the helix to 2k_F eliminates the need to tune the chemical potential.

Original language	American English
Article number	186805
Journal	Physical review letters
Volume	111
Issue number	18
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.186805
State	Published - Nov 1 2013

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Physics and Astronomy

Access to Document

10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.186805

Cite this

@article{5bf03cdbe1b64bc3ac0fe2fe40418921,

title = "Topological superconductivity and Majorana fermions in RKKY systems",

abstract = "We consider quasi-one-dimensional Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida (RKKY) systems in proximity to an s-wave superconductor. We show that a 2kF peak in the spin susceptibility of the superconductor in the one-dimensional limit supports helical order of localized magnetic moments via RKKY interaction, where kF is the Fermi wave vector. The magnetic helix is equivalent to a uniform magnetic field and very strong spin-orbit interaction (SOI) with an effective SOI length 1/2kF. We find the conditions to establish such a magnetic state in atomic chains and semiconducting nanowires with magnetic atoms or nuclear spins. Generically, these systems are in a topological phase with Majorana fermions. The inherent self-tuning of the helix to 2kF eliminates the need to tune the chemical potential.",

author = "Jelena Klinovaja and Peter Stano and Ali Yazdani and Daniel Loss",

year = "2013",

month = nov,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.186805",

language = "American English",

volume = "111",

journal = "Physical review letters",

issn = "0031-9007",

publisher = "American Physical Society",

number = "18",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Topological superconductivity and Majorana fermions in RKKY systems

AU - Klinovaja, Jelena

AU - Stano, Peter

AU - Yazdani, Ali

AU - Loss, Daniel

PY - 2013/11/1

Y1 - 2013/11/1

N2 - We consider quasi-one-dimensional Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida (RKKY) systems in proximity to an s-wave superconductor. We show that a 2kF peak in the spin susceptibility of the superconductor in the one-dimensional limit supports helical order of localized magnetic moments via RKKY interaction, where kF is the Fermi wave vector. The magnetic helix is equivalent to a uniform magnetic field and very strong spin-orbit interaction (SOI) with an effective SOI length 1/2kF. We find the conditions to establish such a magnetic state in atomic chains and semiconducting nanowires with magnetic atoms or nuclear spins. Generically, these systems are in a topological phase with Majorana fermions. The inherent self-tuning of the helix to 2kF eliminates the need to tune the chemical potential.

AB - We consider quasi-one-dimensional Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida (RKKY) systems in proximity to an s-wave superconductor. We show that a 2kF peak in the spin susceptibility of the superconductor in the one-dimensional limit supports helical order of localized magnetic moments via RKKY interaction, where kF is the Fermi wave vector. The magnetic helix is equivalent to a uniform magnetic field and very strong spin-orbit interaction (SOI) with an effective SOI length 1/2kF. We find the conditions to establish such a magnetic state in atomic chains and semiconducting nanowires with magnetic atoms or nuclear spins. Generically, these systems are in a topological phase with Majorana fermions. The inherent self-tuning of the helix to 2kF eliminates the need to tune the chemical potential.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84887089055&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84887089055&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.186805

DO - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.186805

M3 - Article

C2 - 24237550

SN - 0031-9007

VL - 111

JO - Physical review letters

JF - Physical review letters

IS - 18

M1 - 186805

ER -

Topological superconductivity and Majorana fermions in RKKY systems

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Cite this