Spontaneous Currents and Topologically Protected States in Superconducting Hybrid Structures with the Spin-Orbit Coupling (Brief Review)

The results of recent theoretical studies of features of superconducting states in hybrid structures whose properties are significantly determined by the spin-orbit effects have been reported. The two main phenomena appearing in such systems in the presence of additional spin splitting caused either by the Zeeman effect in a magnetic field or by the exchange field: (i) the generation of spontaneous currents and (ii) the appearance of topologically nontrivial superconducting phases. It has been shown that the spin-orbit coupling can be a key mechanism that allows implementing new inhomogeneous phase structures, in particular, the so-called phase batteries. The effect of geometric factors on the properties of topologically nontrivial superconducting states has been analyzed. New types of topological transitions in vortex states of Majorana wires have been proposed.

Automated summary

Recent theoretical studies have reported on the features of superconducting states in hybrid structures influenced by spin-orbit effects, with phenomena such as the generation of spontaneous currents and the appearance of topologically nontrivial superconducting phases. It has been shown that spin-orbit coupling can enable new inhomogeneous phase structures, including phase batteries, and the effects of geometric factors on topologically nontrivial superconducting states have been analyzed. Additionally, new types of topological transitions in vortex states of Majorana wires have been proposed.