Abstract:

Majorana fermions have become subject of considerable recent interest because of their potential use for future topological quantum computing applications. In this talk, I will describe a new experimental approach for realization of Majorana bound state in one-dimensional chains of magnetic atoms on the surface of a superconductor. These experiments are motivated by model calculations that show such chains can host topological superconductivity with Majorana end modes. The calculations also show that decoupled Majorana bound states can form in magnetic chains with as few as twenty atoms. We use self-assembly growth technique as well as direct atomic manipulation with the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) to realize such wires in situ on atomically ordered surfaces of s-wave superconductors. Spectroscopic mapping with the STM on such wires show clear evidence for formation of end states with Majorana-like characteristics. I will describe these experiments and our future plans to manipulate the bound states in such wires using various STM techniques.