Transport signatures of fractional fermions in rashba nanowires

Abstract

We theoretically study transport through a semiconducting Rashba nanowire (NW) in the presence of uniform and spatially modulated magnetic fields. The system is fully gapped, and the interplay between the spin orbit interaction and the magnetic fields leads to fractionally charged fermion (FF) bound states of the Jackiw-Rebbi type at each end of the nanowire. We investigate the transport and noise behavior of a N/NW/N system, where the wire is contacted by two normal leads (N), and we look for possible signatures that could help in the experimental detection of such states. We find that the differential conductance and the shot noise exhibit a subgap structure which fully reveals the presence of the FF state. Alternatively, another confirmation of the presence of the FFs is provided by a conductance measurement in an Aharonov-Bohm setup, where the FFs are responsible for oscillations with double period. Our predictions can be tested in InSb/InAs nanowires and are within reach of the present technology. © 2014 American Physical Society.