SFB colloquium von Oppen

Topological superconductivity and Majorana bound states in chains of magnetic adatoms on superconductors

A series of recent experiments, starting with Nadj-Perge et al. [Science 346, 602 (2014)], provide possible evidence for topological superconductivity and Majorana bound states in chains of magnetic adatoms on conventional superconductors. In this talk, I will sketch the physical picture underlying these experiments, provide a critical assessment of the current experimental situation and discuss whether these systems might be suitable for topological quantum computation.