Such peaks have been observed in several experiments and have been interpreted as the signatures of MFs [15–19]. Unfortunately, a zero-bias anomaly might also occur under similar conditions due to a Kondo resonance once the magnetic field has suppressed the superconducting gap enough to permit the screening of a localized spin [18, 24], and these experiments are not spatially resolved to detect the position of the MFs. Additionally, in many instances, the presence

of disorder can also result in spurious zero-bias anomalies even when the system is not topological [25–27]. Except zero-bias conductance peak, the Josephson effect is another signature which can demonstrate Majorana particles in the hybrid semiconductor-superconductor junction [20, 28, 29]. However, most of the recent experiments proposed and carried out have focused on electrical 8-Bromo-cAMP mw scheme, and the observation of Majorana signature based on electrical methods

still remains a subject of debate. Meanwhile, other effective methods, such as optical technique [30, 31], for detecting MFs in the hybrid semiconductor/superconductor heterostructure have received less attention until now. In recent years, nanostructures such as quantum dots (QDs) and nanomechanical resonators (NRs) have been obtained significant progress in modern nanoscience and RG-7388 chemical structure nanotechnology. QD, as a simple stationary atom with well optical property [32], lays the foundation for numerous possible applications [33]. On the other hand, NRs are applied to ultrasensitive detection of mechanical signal [34], mass [35, 36], mechanical displacements [37], and spin [38] due to their high natural frequencies

and BAY 63-2521 manufacturer large quality factors [39]. Further, the hybrid system where a QD is coupled to the NR also attracts much interest [40–42]. Based on the advantages of QD or NR, several groups propose a scheme for detecting MFs via the QD [43–48] or the NR [49] coupled to the nearby MFs. Here, we will propose an optical scheme to detect the existence of MFs in such a hybrid semiconductor/superconductor heterostructure via a hybrid QD-NR system. In the present article, we consider a scheme closed to that of the recent experiment by Mourik Dichloromethane dehalogenase et al. [15]. Compared with zero-bias peaks and the Josephson effect, we adopt an optical pump-probe technique to detect MFs. The nonlinear optical Kerr effect, as a distinct signature for demonstrating the existence of MFs in the hybrid semiconductor/superconductor heterostructure, is the main result of this work. Further, in our system (see Figure 1), the NR as a phononic cavity will enhance the nonlinear optical effect significantly, which makes MFs more sensitive to be detected. Figure 1 Sketch of the proposed setup for optically detecting MFs. An InSb semiconductor nanowire (SNW) with strong spin-orbit interaction (SOI) in an external aligned parallel magnetic field B is placed on the surface of a bulk s-wave superconductor (SC).