Topological superconductivity can emerge from the combination of conventional superconductivity in a metal and strong spin–orbit coupling in a semiconductor when they are made into a hybrid device. The most exciting manifestation of topological superconductivity is the Majorana zero modes that are predicted to exist at the ends of the proximatized nanowires. In this Perspective, we review the evidence for the existence of Majorana zero modes that has accumulated in numerous experiments and the remaining uncertainties, and discuss what additional evidence is desirable. One very important factor for future development is the quality of the interface between the superconductor and semiconductor; we sketch out where further progress in the materials science of these interfaces can take us. We then discuss the path towards applying these modes in topologically protected quantum computing and observing more exotic kinds of superconductivity based on the same materials platform, and how to make connections to high-energy physics.

当将它们制成混合器件时，金属中的常规超导性与半导体中的强自旋轨道耦合的结合会产生拓扑超导性。拓扑超导最令人兴奋的表现是Majorana零模，预计该零模将存在于邻近的纳米线的末端。在本《观点》中，我们回顾了许多实验中积累的Majorana零模式的存在证据以及其余的不确定性，并讨论了需要哪些其他证据。未来发展的一个非常重要的因素是超导体和半导体之间的接口质量。我们勾勒出这些界面的材料科学的进一步进步可以带给我们什么。