Majorana bound states from interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction
We investigate an interface of a ferromagnetic thin film on a superconducting substrate. The magnetic configuration of the system can realize different phases depending on the competing effects of Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya (DM) interaction, exchange interaction, out-of-plane axis anisotropy, and an external magnetic field. Notably, DM interaction may lead to a non-collinear ground state which exhibits either a spiral state or magnetic skyrmions. The coexistance of such non-collinear phases with superconductivity in the substrate can render the interface topological. In that case, the formation of Majorana bound states (MBS) is expected. We discuss different approaches to realize MBS with single skyrmions, multiple skyrmions, or spiral configurations. In particular, we consider a chain of skyrmions as a platform for MBS.