Majorana fermions in a topological-insulator nanowire proximity-coupled to ans-wave superconductor

A finite-length topological-insulator nanowire, proximity-coupled to an ordinary bulk s-wave superconductor and subject to a longitudinal applied magnetic field, is shown to realize a one-dimensional topological superconductor with unpaired Majorana fermions localized at both ends. This situation occurs under a wide range of conditions and constitutes an easily accessible physical realization of the elusive Majorana particle in a solid-state system.