Strain manipulation of Majorana fermions in graphene armchair nanoribbons
Abstract
Graphene nanoribbons with armchair edges are studied for externally enhanced, but realistic parameter values: enhanced Rashba spin-orbit coupling due to proximity to a transition metal dichalcogenide like WS2, and enhanced Zeeman field due to exchange coupling with a magnetic insulator like EuS under applied magnetic field. The presence of s--wave superconductivity, induced either by proximity or by decoration with alkali metal atoms like Ca or Li, leads to a topological superconducting phase with Majorana end modes. The topological phase is highly sensitive to the application of uniaxial strain, with a transition to the trivial state above a critical strain well below 0.1\%. This sensitivity allows for real space manipulation of Majorana fermions by applying non-uniform strain profiles. Similar manipulation is also possible by applying inhomogeneous Zeeman field or chemical potential.
Turn this paper into a lesson
ArcXiv compiles a structured reading guide from this paper's metadata: plain-English importance, contributions, prerequisite concepts, which sections to read first, flashcards, and a quiz. Grounded in the abstract, never invented.