Nanoscale control of 2D superconductivity and Majorana states

• Applicant: Dr. Felix Lüpke
• Subject Area: Experimental Condensed Matter Physics
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 511561801

Majorana states occur at the boundaries of topological superconductors and have potential applications in topological quantum computing. While scanning probe microscopy has proven to be a powerful tool for the passive detection of Majorana state signatures at sample surfaces, the crucial next step of an active manipulation of Majorana states in space has so far not been demonstrated. I propose an Emmy Noether Young Investigator Group with the goal to realize the controlled manipulation of topological superconductivity and Majorana states in a scanning probe microscope. To achieve this goal, I plan to engineer two-dimensional topological superconductivity in van der Waals heterostructures and to control it with gates. By careful engineering of the heterostructures, I plan to achieve the manipulation of Majorana states (moving, creation/annihilation, fusion) with the probe tip. I further propose to realize a Majorana state at the apex of the probe tip, by employing topological superconducting nanowires as scanning probes. This approach will allow a straightforward way to manipulate the Majorana state on a sample surface and probe its interactions with Majorana states on the sample surface.

• DFG Programme: Independent Junior Research Groups
• Major Instrumentation: STM control electronics
• Instrumentation Group: 5091 Rasterkraft-Mikroskope