Tunnel conductance spectroscopy via harmonic generation in a hybrid capacitor device

I address the measurement of density of states within and beyond the superconducting gap in tunnel-coupled finite-size nanostructures using a capacitive method. Third-harmonic generation is used to yield the full differential conductance spectrum without destruction of the low dimensionality otherwise induced by intimate ohmic coupling to an electrode. The method is particularly relevant to attempts to discern the presence of the fragile Majorana fermion quasiparticle at the end of spin-orbit-coupled nanowires in appropriate magnetic field conditions by their signature mid-gap density of states. (C) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.