### Session D44: Invited Session: Topological Quantum Computing with Majorana Fermions

2:30 PM–5:30 PM, Monday, February 27, 2012
Room: 157C

Sponsoring Units: GQI DCMP
Chair: Gil Refael, California Institute of Technology

Abstract ID: BAPS.2012.MAR.D44.3

### Abstract: D44.00003 : The Search for Majorana Fermions in Semiconductor Nanowires

3:42 PM–4:18 PM

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#### Author:

Leo Kouwenhoven
(Kavli Institute of NanoScience, Delft, The Netherlands)

Majorana Fermions can arise as quasi-particles in specially designed nanoscale, electronic devices. Our approach is to use semiconductor nanowires with strong spin-orbit interaction (InAs or InSb). We induce superconductivity in the nanowires and control the electron density through a nearby gate. Several properties are measured such as the spin-orbit strength (including the dependence on the magnetic field direction), the induced superconducting gap (including magnetic field dependence) and the flow of supercurrents. For the determined experimental values we estimate the temperature scale to be $\sim$2 Kelvin as the transition temperature for the reaching the phase of a topological superconductor. Majorana Fermions should be detectable as special features in the tunneling conductance or in the periodicity of an interferometer setup (SQUID geometry).

To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2012.MAR.D44.3