Bionic fractionalization in the trimer model of twisted bilayer graphene

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Zhang, Kevin, Mao, Dan, Kim, Eun-Ah, Moessner, Roderich
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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_version_ 1866910626517876736
author Zhang, Kevin
Mao, Dan
Kim, Eun-Ah
Moessner, Roderich
author_facet Zhang, Kevin
Mao, Dan
Kim, Eun-Ah
Moessner, Roderich
contents Motivated by the rapid experimental progress in twisted van der Waals materials, we study the triangular trimer model as a representative framework for extended Wannier orbitals in twisted bilayer graphene at 1/3-filling. This deceptively simple model exhibits a rich suite of complex phases, including unusual excitations exhibiting the physics of fractionalization and fractons. For our investigations, we carry out extensive Monte Carlo simulations using an efficient cluster algorithm. The so-obtained finite-temperature phase diagram reveals a novel polar fluid and an ordered brick-wall phase characterized by fractionally charged $e/3$ excitations with subdimensional lineonic dynamics. Notably, we identify a critical trimer liquid phase for the particularly simple model of hard trimers. For this, we derive a new field theory which takes the form of a U(1)$\times$U(1) gauge theory. Its $e/3$ monomers are fractionalized bionic excitations: they carry a {\it pair} of emergent gauge charges, as evidenced by algebraic correlations with two distinct exponents. These field theoretical predictions offer theoretical grounds for numerical observations of critical exponents. Our study highlights the triangular trimer model as a new key platform for investigating fractionalization and fractons, where trimer liquid bionic monomers can transform into lineons or fractons in proximate phases, and calls for experimental investigations of this physics in twisted van der Waals materials and a broader class of systems with intermediate-range interactions.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2410_00092
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Bionic fractionalization in the trimer model of twisted bilayer graphene
Zhang, Kevin
Mao, Dan
Kim, Eun-Ah
Moessner, Roderich
Strongly Correlated Electrons
Statistical Mechanics
Motivated by the rapid experimental progress in twisted van der Waals materials, we study the triangular trimer model as a representative framework for extended Wannier orbitals in twisted bilayer graphene at 1/3-filling. This deceptively simple model exhibits a rich suite of complex phases, including unusual excitations exhibiting the physics of fractionalization and fractons. For our investigations, we carry out extensive Monte Carlo simulations using an efficient cluster algorithm. The so-obtained finite-temperature phase diagram reveals a novel polar fluid and an ordered brick-wall phase characterized by fractionally charged $e/3$ excitations with subdimensional lineonic dynamics. Notably, we identify a critical trimer liquid phase for the particularly simple model of hard trimers. For this, we derive a new field theory which takes the form of a U(1)$\times$U(1) gauge theory. Its $e/3$ monomers are fractionalized bionic excitations: they carry a {\it pair} of emergent gauge charges, as evidenced by algebraic correlations with two distinct exponents. These field theoretical predictions offer theoretical grounds for numerical observations of critical exponents. Our study highlights the triangular trimer model as a new key platform for investigating fractionalization and fractons, where trimer liquid bionic monomers can transform into lineons or fractons in proximate phases, and calls for experimental investigations of this physics in twisted van der Waals materials and a broader class of systems with intermediate-range interactions.
title Bionic fractionalization in the trimer model of twisted bilayer graphene
topic Strongly Correlated Electrons
Statistical Mechanics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2410.00092