Time-Reversal-Invariant Topological Superconductivity and Majorana Kramers Pairs

TLDR

At the boundary of a time‑reversal‑invariant topological superconductor a Kramers pair of Majorana edge states emerges. The authors propose engineering such superconductors by coupling nodeless s(±) wave iron‑based superconductors to Rashba semiconductors. They analyze Majorana pair evolution under Zeeman fields and symmetry‑class changes, discuss experimental signatures in tunneling spectroscopy, and outline material realizations. They predict a mirror‑symmetry‑protected Majorana quartet in a Josephson π junction that yields a mirror fractional Josephson effect, and show that Majorana pair evolution under Zeeman fields offers observable tunneling spectroscopy signatures.

Abstract

We propose a feasible route to engineer one- and two-dimensional time-reversal-invariant topological superconductors (SCs) via proximity effects between nodeless s(±) wave iron-based SCs and semiconductors with large Rashba spin-orbit interactions. At the boundary of a time-reversal-invariant topological SC, there emerges a Kramers pair of Majorana edge (bound) states. For a Josephson π junction, we predict a Majorana quartet that is protected by mirror symmetry and leads to a mirror fractional Josephson effect. We analyze the evolution of the Majorana pair in Zeeman fields, as the SC undergoes a symmetry class change as well as topological phase transitions, providing an experimental signature in tunneling spectroscopy. We briefly discuss the realization of this mechanism in candidate materials and the possibility of using s and d wave SCs and weak topological insulators.