Optimizing the Majorana character of SQUIDs with topologically non-trivial barriers

Abstract

We have modeled SQUIDs with topologically non-trivial superconducting junctions and performed an optimization study on the Majorana fermion detection. We find that the SQUID parameters beta_L, and beta_C can be used to increase the ratio of Majorana tunneling to standard Cooper pair tunneling by more than two orders of magnitude. Most importantly, we show that dc SQUIDs including topologically trivial components can still host strong signatures of the Majorana fermion. This paves the way towards the experimental verification of the theoretically predicted Majorana fermion.