Origin and stability of generalized Wigner crystallinity in triangular moiré systems

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Kumar, Aman, Lewandowski, Cyprian, Changlani, Hitesh J.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author Kumar, Aman
Lewandowski, Cyprian
Changlani, Hitesh J.
author_facet Kumar, Aman
Lewandowski, Cyprian
Changlani, Hitesh J.
contents Generalized Wigner crystals (GWC) on triangular moiré superlattices, formed from stacking two layers of transition metal chalcogenides, have been observed at multiple fractional fillings [Nature 587, 214 - 218 (2020), Nat. Phys. 17, 715 - 719 (2021), Nature 597, 650 - 654 (2021)]. Motivated by these experiments, tied with the need for accurate microscopic descriptions of these materials, we explore the origins of GWC at $n=1/3$ and $2/3$ filling. We demonstrate the general limitations of theoretical descriptions relying on finite-range, versus long-range interactions, however, we clarify why some properties are captured by an effective nearest-neighbor model. We study both classical and quantum effects at zero and finite temperatures, discussing the role of charge frustration, identifying a ``pinball" phase, a partially quantum melted GWC, with no classical analog. Our work addresses several experimental observations and makes predictions for how many of the theoretical findings can be potentially realized in future experiments.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2409_13814
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Origin and stability of generalized Wigner crystallinity in triangular moiré systems
Kumar, Aman
Lewandowski, Cyprian
Changlani, Hitesh J.
Strongly Correlated Electrons
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Materials Science
Generalized Wigner crystals (GWC) on triangular moiré superlattices, formed from stacking two layers of transition metal chalcogenides, have been observed at multiple fractional fillings [Nature 587, 214 - 218 (2020), Nat. Phys. 17, 715 - 719 (2021), Nature 597, 650 - 654 (2021)]. Motivated by these experiments, tied with the need for accurate microscopic descriptions of these materials, we explore the origins of GWC at $n=1/3$ and $2/3$ filling. We demonstrate the general limitations of theoretical descriptions relying on finite-range, versus long-range interactions, however, we clarify why some properties are captured by an effective nearest-neighbor model. We study both classical and quantum effects at zero and finite temperatures, discussing the role of charge frustration, identifying a ``pinball" phase, a partially quantum melted GWC, with no classical analog. Our work addresses several experimental observations and makes predictions for how many of the theoretical findings can be potentially realized in future experiments.
title Origin and stability of generalized Wigner crystallinity in triangular moiré systems
topic Strongly Correlated Electrons
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Materials Science
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.13814