Physical Review Research (Sep 2022)

Large zero bias peaks and dips in a four-terminal thin InAs-Al nanowire device

  • Huading Song,
  • Zitong Zhang,
  • Dong Pan,
  • Donghao Liu,
  • Zhaoyu Wang,
  • Zhan Cao,
  • Lei Liu,
  • Lianjun Wen,
  • Dunyuan Liao,
  • Ran Zhuo,
  • Dong E. Liu,
  • Runan Shang,
  • Jianhua Zhao,
  • Hao Zhang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.4.033235
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 4, no. 3
p. 033235

Abstract

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We report electron transport studies of a thin InAs-Al hybrid semiconductor-superconductor nanowire device using a four-terminal design. Compared to previous studies, thinner InAs nanowire (diameter less than 40 nm) is expected to reach fewer subband regime. The four-terminal device design excludes electrode contact resistance, an unknown value, which has inevitably affected previously reported device conductance. Using tunneling spectroscopy, we find large zero bias peaks (ZBPs) in differential conductance on the order of 2e^{2}/h. At specific gate voltage settings, we find a magnetic-field-driven transition between a zero bias peak and a zero bias dip while the zero-bias conductance sticks close to 2e^{2}/h. We discuss a topologically trivial interpretation involving disorder, smooth potential variation and quasi-Majorana zero modes.