Majorana dc Josephson current mediated by a quantum dot

Abstract

The Josephson supercurrent through the hybrid Majorana--quantum dot--Majorana junction is investigated. We particularly analyze the effect of spin-selective coupling between the Majorana and quantum dot states, which emerges only in the topological phase and will influence the current through bent junctions and/or in the presence of magnetic fields in the quantum dot. We find that the characteristic behaviors of the supercurrent through this system are quite counterintuitive, remarkably differing from the resonant tunneling, e.g., through the similar (normal phase) superconductor--quantum dot--superconductor junction. Our analysis is carried out under the influence of full set-up parameters and for both the $2\pi$ and $4\pi$ periodic currents. The present study is expected to be relevant to future exploration of applications of the Majorana-nanowire circuits.