Evidence of Majorana fermions in an Al - InAs nanowire topological superconductor

Understand

Majorana fermions are the only fermionic particles that are expected to be their own antiparticles.

• While elementary particles of the Majorana type were not identified yet, quasi-particles with Majorana like properties, born from interacting electrons in the solid, were predicted to exist.
• Here, we present thorough experimental studies, backed by numerical simulations, of a system composed of an aluminum superconductor in proximity to an indium arsenide nanowire, with the latter possessing strong spin-orbit coupling.
• An induced 1d topological superconductor - supporting Majorana fermions at both ends - is expected to form.