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We report on electron transport in gate-tunable Corbino-geometry Josephson junctions (CJJs) fabricated from an epitaxially grown Aluminum (Al) superconductor on an InAs quantum well. We observed that a supercurrent can be tuned by the gate voltage and sweeping an out-of-plane magnetic field initiates a sudden rise in the electrical resistance. From the analysis using a theoretical model for flow resistance due to Josephson vortices in CJJs, we evaluate the vortex core size, which substantially depends on the carrier density and temperature. These results will be subsequently utilized for future operations of the Josephson vortices in CJJs.

Majorana zero-modes - a type of localized quasiparticle - hold great promise for topological quantum computing. Tunnelling spectroscopy in electrical transport is the primary tool for identifying the presence of Majorana zero-modes, for instance as a zero-bias peak in differential conductance. The height of the Majorana zero-bias peak is predicted to be quantized at the universal conductance value of 2e 2 /h at zero temperature (where e is the charge of an electron and h is the Planck constant), as a direct consequence of the famous Majorana symmetry in which a particle is its own antiparticle. The Majorana symmetry protects the quantization against disorder, interactions and variations in the tunnel coupling. Previous experiments, however, have mostly shown zero-bias peaks much smaller than 2e 2 /h, with a recent observation of a peak height close to 2e 2 /h. Here we report a quantized conductance plateau at 2e 2 /h in the zero-bias conductance measured in indium antimonide semiconductor nanowires covered with an aluminium superconducting shell. The height of our zero-bias peak remains constant despite changing parameters such as the magnetic field and tunnel coupling, indicating that it is a quantized conductance plateau. We distinguish this quantized Majorana peak from possible non-Majorana origins by investigating its robustness to electric and magnetic fields as well as its temperature dependence. The observation of a quantized conductance plateau strongly supports the existence of Majorana zero-modes in the system, consequently paving the way for future braiding experiments that could lead to topological quantum computing.

Semiconductor nanowires are ideal for realizing various low-dimensional quantum devices. In particular, topological phases of matter hosting non-Abelian quasiparticles (such as anyons) can emerge when a semiconductor nanowire with strong spin-orbit coupling is brought into contact with a superconductor. To exploit the potential of non-Abelian anyons - which are key elements of topological quantum computing - fully, they need to be exchanged in a well-controlled braiding operation. Essential hardware for braiding is a network of crystalline nanowires coupled to superconducting islands. Here we demonstrate a technique for generic bottom-up synthesis of complex quantum devices with a special focus on nanowire networks with a predefined number of superconducting islands. Structural analysis confirms the high crystalline quality of the nanowire junctions, as well as an epitaxial superconductor-semiconductor interface. Quantum transport measurements of nanowire 'hashtags' reveal Aharonov-Bohm and weak-antilocalization effects, indicating a phase-coherent system with strong spin-orbit coupling. In addition, a proximity-induced hard superconducting gap (with vanishing sub-gap conductance) is demonstrated in these hybrid superconductor-semiconductor nanowires, highlighting the successful materials development necessary for a first braiding experiment. Our approach opens up new avenues for the realization of epitaxial three-dimensional quantum architectures which have the potential to become key components of various quantum devices.

One-dimensional (1D) electronic transport and induced superconductivity in semiconductor nanostructures are crucial ingredients to realize topological superconductivity. Our approach for topological superconductivity employs a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) formed by an InAs quantum well, cleanly interfaced with an epitaxial superconductor (epi-Al). This epi-Al/InAs quantum well heterostructure is advantageous for fabricating large-scale nanostructures consisting of multiple Majorana zero modes. Here, we demonstrate transport studies of building-blocks using a high-quality epi-Al/InAs 2DEG heterostructure, which could be put together to realize various proposed 1D nanowire-based nanostructures and 2DEG-based networks that could host multiple Majorana zero modes. The studies include (1) gate-defined quasi-1D channels in the InAs 2DEG and (2) quantum point contacts for tunneling spectroscopy, as well as induced superconductivity in (3) a ballistic Al-InAs 2DEG-Al Josephson junction. From 1D transport, systematic evolution of conductance plateaus in half-integer conductance quanta is observed with Landé g-factor of 17, indicating the strong spin-orbit coupling and high quality of the InAs 2DEG. The improved 2DEG quality leads to ballistic Josephson junctions with enhanced characteristic parameters such as I

This article has been retracted. Please see the Retraction Notice for more detail: http://doi-org-443.webvpn.bjmu.tsg211.com/10.1038/s41586-021-03373-x.

We report strong electron-electron interactions in quantum wires etched from an InAs quantum well, a material generally expected to have strong spin-orbit interactions. We find that the current through the wires as a function of the bias voltage and temperature follows the universal scaling behavior of a Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid. Using a universal scaling formula, we extract the interaction parameter and find strong electron-electron interactions, increasing as the wires become more depleted. We establish theoretically that the spin-orbit interaction cause only minor modifications of the interaction parameter in this regime, indicating that genuinely strong electron-electron interactions are indeed achieved in the device. Our results suggest that etched InAs wires provide a platform with both strong electron-electron interactions and the strong spin-orbit interaction.

Near-surface InAs two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) systems have great potential for realizing networks of multiple Majorana zero modes towards a scalable topological quantum computer. Improving mobility in the near-surface 2DEGs is beneficial for stable topological superconducting states as well as for correlation of multiple Majorana zero modes in a complex network. Here, we investigate near-surface InAs 2DEGs (13 nm away from the surface) grown on GaSb(001) substrates, whose lattice constant is closely matched to InAs, by molecular beam epitaxy. The effect of a 10-nm-thick top barrier to the mobility is studied by comparing $\mathrm{A}{\mathrm{l}}_{0.9}\mathrm{G}{\mathrm{a}}_{0.1}\mathrm{Sb}$ and $\mathrm{I}{\mathrm{n}}_{0.75}\mathrm{G}{\mathrm{a}}_{0.25}\mathrm{As}$ as a top barrier on otherwise identical InAs quantum wells grown with identical bottom barrier and buffer layers. A 3-nm-thick capping layer on an $\mathrm{A}{\mathrm{l}}_{0.9}\mathrm{G}{\mathrm{a}}_{0.1}\mathrm{Sb}$ top barrier also affects the 2DEG electronic transport properties by modifying scattering from 2D remote ionized impurities at the surface. The highest transport mobility of $650\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}000\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{c}{\mathrm{m}}^{2}/\mathrm{V}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{s}$ with an electron density of $3.81\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{11}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{c}{\mathrm{m}}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$ was observed in an InAs 2DEG with an $\mathrm{A}{\mathrm{l}}_{0.9}\mathrm{G}{\mathrm{a}}_{0.1}\mathrm{Sb}$ top barrier and an $\mathrm{I}{\mathrm{n}}_{0.75}\mathrm{G}{\mathrm{a}}_{0.25}\mathrm{As}$ capping layer. Analysis of Shubnikov--de Haas oscillations in the high-mobility sample suggests that long-range scattering, such as remote ionized impurity scattering, is the dominant scattering mechanism in the InAs 2DEGs grown on GaSb(001) substrates. In comparison to InAs quantum wells grown on lattice-mismatched InP, the ones grown on GaSb show smoother surface morphology and higher quantum mobility. However, the $\mathrm{I}{\mathrm{n}}_{0.75}\mathrm{G}{\mathrm{a}}_{0.25}\mathrm{As}$ top barrier in the InAs quantum well grown on GaSb limits the transport mobility by charged dislocations formed in it, in addition to the major contribution to scattering from the alloy scattering.

In an ideal InAs/GaSb bilayer of appropriate dimension in-plane electron and hole bands overlap and hybridize, and a topologically non-trivial, or quantum spin Hall (QSH) insulator, phase is predicted to exist. The in-plane dispersion's potential landscape, however, is subject to microscopic perturbations originating from material imperfections. In this work, the effect of disorder on the electronic structure of InAs/GaSb bilayers was studied by the temperature and magnetic field dependence of the resistance of a dual-gated heterostructures gate-tuned through the inverted to normal gap regimes. Conduction in the inverted (predicted topological) regime was qualitatively similar to behavior in a disordered two-dimensional system. The impact of charged impurities and interface roughness on the formation of topologically protected edge states and an insulating bulk was estimated. The experimental evidence and estimates of disorder in the potential landscape indicated the potential fluctuations in state-of-the-art films are sufficiently strong such that conduction in the predicted topological insulator (TI) regime was dominated by a symplectic metal phase rather than a TI phase. The implications are that future efforts must address disorder in this system and focus must be placed on the reduction of defects and disorder in these heterostructures if a TI regime is to be achieved., Comment: 16 pages, including 6 figures

We demonstrate the transfer of the superconducting properties of NbTi---a large-gap high-critical-field superconductor---into an InAs heterostructure via a thin intermediate layer of epitaxial Al. Two device geometries, a Josephson junction and a gate-defined quantum point contact, are used to characterize interface transparency and the two-step proximity effect. In the Josephson junction, multiple Andreev reflection reveal near-unity transparency, with an induced gap $\Delta^*=0.50~\mathrm{meV}$ and a critical temperature of $7.8~\mathrm{K}$. Tunneling spectroscopy yields a hard induced gap in the InAs adjacent to the superconductor of $\Delta^*=0.43~\mathrm{meV}$ with substructure characteristic of both Al and NbTi.

The growth and the density dependence of the low temperature mobility of a series of two-dimensional electron systems confined to un-intentionally doped, low extended defect density InAs quantum wells with Al$_{1-x}$Ga$_{x}$Sb barriers are reported. The electron mobility limiting scattering mechanisms were determined by utilizing dual-gated devices to study the dependence of mobility on carrier density and electric field independently. Analysis of the possible scattering mechanisms indicate the mobility was limited primarily by rough interfaces in narrow quantum wells and a combination of alloy disorder and interface roughness in wide wells at high carrier density within the first occupied electronic sub-band. At low carrier density the functional dependence of the mobility on carrier density provided evidence of coulombic scattering from charged defects. A gate-tuned electron mobility exceeding 750,000 cm$^{2}$/Vs was achieved at a sample temperature of 2 K., 23 pages, 7 figures, 1 table

Control of zero-field spin splitting is realized in a dual-gated high-quality InAs-AlSb two-dimensional electron gas. Magnetotransport experiments showed clean Shubnikov--de Haas oscillations down to low magnetic fields, and the gate-tuned electron mobility exceeded $700\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}000\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{c}{\mathrm{m}}^{2}/\mathrm{V}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{s}$. A clear beating effect was observed in magnetoresistance oscillations at large potential asymmetry between gates. Beat patterns due to zero-field spin splitting and other classes of transverse magnetoresistance oscillations were distinguished by temperature-dependent magnetoresistance measurements. Analysis of the magnetoresistance oscillations indicated that the zero-field spin splitting could be tuned via the Rashba effect while keeping the two-dimensional electron gas charge density constant.

We investigate the performance of gate-defined devices fabricated on high mobility InAs metamorphic heterostructures. We find that heterostructures capped with In$_{0.75}$Ga$_{0.25}$As often show signs of parallel conduction due to proximity of their surface Fermi level to the conduction band minimum. Here, we introduce a technique that can be used to estimate the density of this surface charge that involves cool-downs from room temperature under gate bias. We have been able to remove the parallel conduction under high positive bias, but achieving full depletion has proven difficult. We find that by using In$_{0.75}$Al$_{0.25}$As as the barrier without an In$_{0.75}$Ga$_{0.25}$As capping, a drastic reduction in parallel conduction can be achieved. Our studies show that this does not change the transport properties of the quantum well significantly. We achieved full depletion in InAlAs capped heterostructures with non-hysteretic gating response suitable for fabrication of gate-defined mesoscopic devices.

Raman spectroscopy is a newly developed, noninvasive preclinical imaging technique that offers picomolar sensitivity and multiplexing capabilities to the field of molecular imaging. In this study, we demonstrate the ability of Raman spectroscopy to separate the spectral fingerprints of up to 10 different types of surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) nanoparticles in a living mouse after s.c. injection. Based on these spectral results, we simultaneously injected the five most intense and spectrally unique SERS nanoparticles i.v. to image their natural accumulation in the liver. All five types of SERS nanoparticles were successfully identified and spectrally separated using our optimized noninvasive Raman imaging system. In addition, we were able to linearly correlate Raman signal with SERS concentration after injecting four spectrally unique SERS nanoparticles either s.c. ( R 2 = 0.998) or i.v. ( R 2 = 0.992). These results show great potential for multiplexed imaging in living subjects in cases in which several targeted SERS probes could offer better detection of multiple biomarkers associated with a specific disease.

A study of scattering mechanisms in gate tunable two dimensional electron gases confined to InAs/(Al,Ga)Sb heterostructures with varying interface roughness and dislocation density is presented. By integrating an insulated gate structure the evolution of the low temperature electron mobility and single-particle lifetime was determined for a previously unexplored density regime, 1011–1012 cm−2, in this system. Existing theoretical models were used to analyze the density dependence of the electron mobility and single particle lifetime in InAs quantum wells. Scattering was found to be dominated by charged dislocations and interface roughness. It was demonstrated that the growth of InAs quantum wells on nearly lattice matched GaSb substrate results in fewer dislocations, lower interface roughness, and improved low temperature transport properties compared to growth on lattice mismatched GaAs substrates.

Semiconductor nanowires are ideal for realizing various low-dimensional quantum devices. In particular, topological phases of matter hosting non-Abelian quasiparticles (such as anyons) can emerge when a semiconductor nanowire with strong spin-orbit coupling is brought into contact with a superconductor. To exploit the potential of non-Abelian anyons - which are key elements of topological quantum computing - fully, they need to be exchanged in a well-controlled braiding operation. Essential hardware for braiding is a network of crystalline nanowires coupled to superconducting islands. Here we demonstrate a technique for generic bottom-up synthesis of complex quantum devices with a special focus on nanowire networks with a predefined number of superconducting islands. Structural analysis confirms the high crystalline quality of the nanowire junctions, as well as an epitaxial superconductor-semiconductor interface. Quantum transport measurements of nanowire 'hashtags' reveal Aharonov-Bohm and weak-antilocalization effects, indicating a phase-coherent system with strong spin-orbit coupling. In addition, a proximity-induced hard superconducting gap (with vanishing sub-gap conductance) is demonstrated in these hybrid superconductor-semiconductor nanowires, highlighting the successful materials development necessary for a first braiding experiment. Our approach opens up new avenues for the realization of epitaxial three-dimensional quantum architectures which have the potential to become key components of various quantum devices.

We report MBE synthesis of InAs/vanadium hybrid nanowires. The vanadium was deposited without breaking ultra-high vacuum after InAs nanowire growth, minimizing any effect of oxidation and contamination at the interface between the two materials. We investigated four different substrate temperatures during vanadium deposition, ranging from -150 °C to 250 °C. The structural relation between vanadium and InAs depended on the deposition temperature. The three lower temperature depositions gave vanadium shells with a polycrystalline, granular morphology and the highest temperature resulted in vanadium reacting with the InAs nanowire. We fabricated electronic devices from the hybrid nanowires and obtained a high out-of-plane critical magnetic field, exceeding the bulk value for vanadium. However, size effects arising from the nanoscale grains resulted in the absence of a well-defined critical temperature, as well as device-to-device variation in the resistivity versus temperature dependence during the transition to the superconducting state.