Synergy of Semiconductor Physics and Electron Pairing: Route Towards Novel Topological Materials

Abstract

We discuss possible scenarios for the realization of a topologically nontrivial superconducting phase in the heterostructures composed of semiconducting nanowires proximitized to bulk superconductors. The investigated samples are characterized by Majorana-type modes appearing at the boundaries of nanowires. Specifically, we inspect the hypothetical transition to the topological superconducting state of the Rashba nanowire deposited along the crystallographic axis of the CuO₂ plane of a d-wave high T_c superconductor. Such a transition might enable access to the topological phase at much higher temperatures than those experimentally observed so far.