Stealth Majorana Zero Mode in a Trilayer Heterostructure MnTe/Bi2Te3/Fe(Te,Se)

Abstract

Recent experiment reported the robust zero-energy states with strange properties in a trilayer heterostructure MnTe/Bi2Te3/Fe(Te,Se). Here, we give comprehensive understandings about the magnetic and electronic properties of the heterostructure, and propose ferromagnetic Mn-Bi antisite defects are generated in the topmost sublayer of Bi2Te3 and hidden below the MnTe layer. We further reveal the defect can induce two types of quasiparticles. One is Yu-Shiba-Rusinov state from defect itself, and another is Majorana zero mode from the superconducting phase domain wall induced by the defect. The two types of quasiparticles have very different response to magnetic field, temperature etc. The coexistence and mutual cooperation of both can explain experimental observations. Furthermore, we propose more simple heterostructure with superiority to generate and finely modulate Majorana zero modes.