Observation of a Majorana zero mode in a topologically protected edge channel

Abstract

Majorana on a hinge One of the early proposals for the physical implementation of Majorana zero modes (MZMs) centered on inducing superconductivity in a topological insulator (TI) by placing it in contact with a superconductor. Jäck et al. used scanning tunneling spectroscopy to observe MZMs in a similar heterostructure. In their devices, the TI is a hexagonal bismuth island placed on top of a layer of superconducting niobium. The bismuth island had topological boundary hinge states on every other edge of the hexagon. Placing a cluster of iron atoms on the hinge generated a zero-bias peak characteristic of MZMs at the interface between the cluster and the hinge state. Science , this issue p. 1255