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Universal Moire Nematic Phase in Twisted Graphitic Systems

ORAL

Abstract

Graphene moiré superlattices display electronic flat bands. At integer fillings of these flat bands, energy gaps due to strong electron-electron interactions have been observed. Other correlation-driven phases in twisted graphitic systems at non-integer fillings have been proposed, but their presence remains unclear. Here, we report scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) measurements that reveal the existence of threefold rotational (C3) symmetry breaking in highly uniform twisted double bilayer graphene (tDBG). We demonstrate that this C3 symmetry breaking cannot be explained by extrinsic factors such as heterostrain and argue instead that it is a manifestation of an interaction driven electronic-nematic phase. This talk will focus on the experimental characterization of C3 symmetry breaking in tDBG and how it compares to symmetry broken phases observed in other moire systems such as magic angle twisted bilayer graphene. Considerations stemming from both microscopic and phenomenological modelling suggest that the observed nematic phase in tDBG emerges from interactions on the scale of the moire lattice. We expect, therefore, that similar nematic phases will be found in a broad range of moire systems with electronic flat bands.

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Presenters

  • Simon Turkel

    Department of Physics, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA, Columbia University

Authors

  • Simon Turkel

    Department of Physics, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA, Columbia University

  • Carmen Rubio Verdú

    Department of Physics, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA, Columbia University, Physics, Columbia University

  • Larry Song

    Department of Physics, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA, Columbia University

  • Lennart Klebl

    RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Theory of Statistical Physics, RWTH Aachen University, and JARA Fundamentals of Future Information Technology, 52062 Aachen, Germany, Institute for Theory of Statistical Physics, Aachen University, RWTH Aachen, Institute for Theory of Statistical Physics, RWTH Aachen University

  • Rhine Samajdar

    Harvard University, Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA

  • Mathias Scheurer

    Universitat Innsbruck, Harvard University, University of Innsbruck, Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA

  • Jorn W. F. Venderbos

    Department of Physics, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA, Drexel University, Department of Physics, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Drexel University

  • Kenji Watanabe

    National Institute for Materials Science, National Institute for Materials Science, Japan, National Institure for Materials Science, Advanced Materials Laboratory, National Institute for Materials Science, NIMS, National Institute of Materials Science, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Research Center for Functional Materials, National Institute for Materials Science, National Institute for Materials Science,1-1 Namiki, National Institute of Material Science, National Institute for Materials Science, Tsukuba, Japan, Research Center for Functional Materials, NIMS, National Institute of Materials Science, Tsukuba, Japan, National Institude for Materials Science, National Institute for Materials Science, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan, Research Center for Functional Materials, National Institute for Materials Science, Tsukuba 305-0044, Japan, International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics, National Institute for Materials, NIMS - Japan, National Institute for Materials Science ,Japan, National Institute for Materials Science, Tsukuba, 305-0044, Ibaraki, Japan, National Institute for Material Science, National Institute for Material Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba 305-0044, Japan, National Institute for Material Science Japan, NIMS Tsukuba, National Institute for Materials Science, Research Center for Functional Materials, Japan, Research Center for Functional Materials, National Institute for Materials Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba 305-0044, Japan, National Institute for Materials Science: Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, JP, National Institue for Material Science, National Institute for Materials Science,1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, 305-0044, Japan, Materials, NIMS, Research Center for Functional Materials, National Institute for Materials Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba 305-0044, Japan, Research Center for Functional Materials, National In, Research Center for Functional Materials, Japan, International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics, National Institute for Materials Science, International Center for Materials nanoarchtectonics, National Institute for Materials Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, 305-0044, Japan, NIMS Suguba, NIMS, Tsukuba, Japan, National Institute for Materials Science, Namiki 1-1, Tsukuba, 305-0044, Ibaraki, Japan, National institute of material science, Advanced Materials Laboratory, National Institute for Materials Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, 305-0044, Japan, Advanced Materials Laboratory, NIMS, Research Center for Functional Materials, National Institute for Materials Science, Ibaraki, Japan, National Institute for Materials Science, Research Center for Functional Materials, National Institute of Material Science, Japan, Tsukuba, National Institute for Materials Science

  • Takashi Taniguchi

    National Institute for Materials Science, Japan, National Institute for Materials Science, Department of Chemical Engineering, Kyoto University, National Institute for Materials Science, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan, International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics, National Institute for Materials Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba 305-0044, Japan, Materials, NIMS, International Center for Materials Anorthite, National Institute for Materials Science, Ibaraki, Japan, Kyoto University

  • Hector Ochoa

    Columbia University, Department of Physics, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA

  • Lede Xian

    Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Theory, Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Physics, Max Planck Institute, Max Planck Institute for Structure and Dynamics of Matter and Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Center for Free Electron Laser Science, 22761 Hamburg, Germany, Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Hamburg, Germany

  • Dante Kennes

    Institute for Theory of Statistical Physics, RWTH Aachen University, and JARA Fundamentals of Future Information Technology, 52062 Aachen, Germany

  • Rafael Fernandes

    University of Minnesota, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, Physics, University of Minnesota, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, 55455 MN, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis

  • Angel Rubio

    Max Plank Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter; Center for Computational Quantum Physics Flatiron Institute, Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Theory, Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Max Planck Inst Structure & Dynamics of Matter, Physics, Max Planck Institute, Max Planck Institute for Structure and Dynamics of Matter and Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Center for Free Electron Laser Science, 22761 Hamburg, Germany, Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter and Center Free-Electron Laser Science, Hamburg, Germany, Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Hamburg, Germany, MPSD Hamburg, Max Planck Institute, Max Planck Inst Structure & Dynamics of Matter; Center for Computational Quantum Physics Flatiron Institute, Simons Foundation NY, USA, Theory, Max Planck Inst Structure & Dynamics of Matter

  • Abhay Narayan

    Department of Physics, Columbia University, Physics, Columbia University, Columbia Univ, Department of Physics, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA, Columbia University