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Analysis of institutional authors

Escribano, SdCorresponding AuthorYeyati, AlAuthorPrada, EAuthorSouto, RsCorresponding Author

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August 29, 2022
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Article

Semiconductor-ferromagnet-superconductor planar heterostructures for 1D topological superconductivity

Publicated to:NPJ QUANTUM MATERIALS. 7 (1): 81- - 2022-12-01 7(1), DOI: 10.1038/s41535-022-00489-9

Authors: Escribano, Samuel D; Maiani, Andrea; Leijnse, Martin; Flensberg, Karsten; Oreg, Yuval; Levy Yeyati, Alfredo; Prada, Elsa; Souto, Ruben Seoane

Affiliations

CSIC, Inst Ciencia Mat Madrid ICMM, E-28049 Madrid, Spain - Author
Lund Univ, Div Solid State Phys & NanoLund, S-22100 Lund, Sweden - Author
Univ Autonoma Madrid, Condensed Matter Phys Ctr IFIMAC, Dept Fis Teor Mat Condensada C5, E-28049 Madrid, Spain - Author
Univ Autonoma Madrid, Inst Nicolas Cabrera, E-28049 Madrid, Spain - Author
Univ Copenhagen, Niels Bohr Inst, Ctr Quantum Devices, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark - Author
Weizmann Inst Sci, Dept Condensed Matter Phys, IL-7610 Rehovot, Israel - Author
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Abstract

Hybrid structures of semiconducting (SM) nanowires, epitaxially grown superconductors (SC), and ferromagnetic-insulator (FI) layers have been explored experimentally and theoretically as alternative platforms for topological superconductivity at zero magnetic field. Here, we analyze a tripartite SM/FI/SC heterostructure but realized in a planar stacking geometry, where the thin FI layer acts as a spin-polarized barrier between the SM and the SC. We optimize the system's geometrical parameters using microscopic simulations, finding the range of FI thicknesses for which the hybrid system can be tuned into the topological regime. Within this range, and thanks to the vertical confinement provided by the stacking geometry, trivial and topological phases alternate regularly as the external gate is varied, displaying a hard topological gap that can reach half of the SC one. This is a significant improvement compared to setups using hexagonal nanowires, which show erratic topological regions with typically smaller and softer gaps. Our proposal provides a magnetic field-free planar design for quasi-one-dimensional topological superconductivity with attractive properties for experimental control and scalability.

Keywords

MajoranaZero-bias peaks

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal NPJ QUANTUM MATERIALS due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2022, it was in position 36/160, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Physics, Applied.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from World Citations provided by WoS (ESI, Clarivate), it yields a value for the citation normalization relative to the expected citation rate of: 2.65. This indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: ESI Nov 14, 2024)

This information is reinforced by other indicators of the same type, which, although dynamic over time and dependent on the set of average global citations at the time of their calculation, consistently position the work at some point among the top 50% most cited in its field:

  • Weighted Average of Normalized Impact by the Scopus agency: 1.75 (source consulted: FECYT Feb 2024)
  • Field Citation Ratio (FCR) from Dimensions: 6.26 (source consulted: Dimensions Jul 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-07-04, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 15
  • Scopus: 11

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-07-04:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 23.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 23 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 2.1.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 3 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: Denmark; Israel; Sweden.

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (DIAZ ESCRIBANO, SAMUEL) and Last Author (SEOANE SOUTO, RUBEN).

the authors responsible for correspondence tasks have been DIAZ ESCRIBANO, SAMUEL and SEOANE SOUTO, RUBEN.