Hybrid superconductor-quantum point contact devices using InSb nanowires

Proposals for studying topologicalsuperconductivity and Majoranabound states in ananowire proximity coupled tosuperconductors require thattransport in thenanowire isballistic. Previous works on hybrid nanowire-superconductor systems have shown evidence for Majoranabound states, but these experiments were also marked by disorder, which disruptsballistic transport. In this paper, we demonstrateballistic transport in theInSbnanowires interfaced directly withsuperconductingAl by observing quantized conductance at zero-magnetic field. Additionally, we demonstrate that thenanowire is proximity coupled to thesuperconducting contacts by observingAndreev reflection. These results are important steps for robustly establishing topologicalsuperconductivity in theInSbnanowires.

Source: Applied Physics Letters - December 5, 2016 Category: Physics Authors: S. T. Gill, J. Damasco, D. Car, E. P. A. M. Bakkers and N. Mason Source Type: research