Realizing DIII Class Topological Superconductors using $d_{x^2-y^2}$-wave Superconductors

Abstract

In this work, we show that a quasi-one-dimensional $d_{x^2-y^2}$-wave superconductor with Rashba spin-orbit coupling is a topological superconductor (TS). This time-reversal invariant DIII class TS supports two topologically protected zero energy Majorana fermions at each end of the system. In contrast to proposals using s-wave superconductors in which a strong magnetic field and the fine tuning of the chemical potential are needed to create Majorana fermions, in our proposal, the topologically non-trivial regime can be reached in the absence of a magnetic field and in a wide range of chemical potential. Experimental signatures and realizations of the proposed superconducting state are discussed.