SuperMag · Cooperation between Superconductivity and Magnetism in Mesoscopic systems: towards Majorana states
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2015-07-01 → 2017-06-30
- EU contribution
- €180,277
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF-EF-ST
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Cooperation between Superconductivity and Magnetism in Mesoscopic systems: towards Majorana states
A major challenge in contemporary physics is to understand and control unconventional states of matter enabling future low-power superconducting digital electronics, and potentially leading to scalable fault-tolerant “topological” quantum computing hardware whose capabilities far exceed those of classical systems. Recent proposals and experiments showed that these exotic quantum states can be engineered at the nanoscale from a precise cooperation between superconductivity and magnetism. In this project I studied this cooperation in hybrid devices consisting of nanometer-size semiconductors and/or metals where superconductivity and magnetism can coexist and be finely controlled. I developed a series of milestone experiments to independently target different aspects of this cooperation ad relate it to size, geometry and materials composition. The electrical characterization, at ultra-low temperatures, of my devices allowed me to clarify many aspect of this cooperation. Moreover the experimental observations supported by the my theoretical models contributed to the understating and control of the unconventional quantum state achieved in the electrons of my nanoscopic devices, towards the highly sought-after and ambitious target of demonstrating fault-tolerant quantum computing in the solid-state.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
A major challenge in contemporary physics is to understand and control unconventional states of matter, such as topological superconductors and Majorana fermions (MFs). Once harnessed, this physics offers bright prospects for low-power superconducting digital electronics and fault-tolerant quantum computation. Recent proposals showed that ordered chains of magnetic impurities, in proximity of a superconductor, can hold a MFs. This state come from a precise cooperation between superconductivity and magnetism. I propose to study this cooperation in a unique system consisting of a nanoscopic metallic island where these two mechanism can be, for the first time, independently controlled. Specifically I will combine two novel technologies for my studies: (i) the superconducting quantum interference proximity transistor (SQUIPT) and (ii) the molecular spin doping. The SQUIPT is a novel device composed by a nanoscopic metallic island in proximity of a superconducting loop able to induce and control superconductivity in the normal metal, whereas molecular spin doping allows for controlled chemical deposition of magnetic impurities in the same normal metal.My first objective is to study the competition/cooperation between the magnetic and the superconducting correlations induced in the electrons of the nanoscopic metallic island by measuring the amplitude and phase of the superconducting Josephson current. Secondly, I will investigate the effect of the magnetic impurities on the quasi-electrons density of states in such junction.Successful combination of my bottom-up and top-down approaches will contribute at first instance to the understating of this fundamental competition/cooperation and later to the highly sought-after and ambitious target of the demonstrating MFs in the solid-state. Tunnel spectroscopy measurements of the SQUIPT will reveal the MFs that, at cryogenic temperatures, can emerge in the metallic island properly doped by the magnetic impurities.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE · RomaCoordinatorItaly
Links
- View on CORDIS
- DOI: 10.3030/660532
- https://web.archive.org/web/20200903065636/https://www.researchgate.net/project/SuperMag
Data: CORDIS, © European Union