Shedding light on topological superconductors

Abstract

We propose an optical approach to monitor superconductors in conjunction with a normal metal layer. Effectively such a hybrid system represents a resonator, where electrons are strongly coupled with light. We show that the interaction of light with the superconductor turns out strongly boosted in the presence of the neighboring metal and as a result, the electromagnetic power absorption of the system is dramatically enhanced. It manifests itself in a giant Fanolike resonance which can uniquely characterize the elementary excitations of the system. Our approach is especially promising for topological superconductors, where the Majorana fermions can be revealed and controlled by light.