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Suppression of symmetry-breaking correlated insulators in a rhombohedral trilayer graphene superlattice

Author

Listed:
  • Xiangyan Han

    (Peking University)

  • Yuting Zou

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Institue of Microelectroincs, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Qianling Liu

    (Peking University)

  • Zhiyu Wang

    (Peking University)

  • Ruirui Niu

    (Peking University)

  • Zhuangzhuang Qu

    (Peking University)

  • Zhuoxian Li

    (Peking University)

  • Chunrui Han

    (Institue of Microelectroincs, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Kenji Watanabe

    (1-1 Namiki)

  • Takashi Taniguchi

    (1-1 Namiki)

  • Baojuan Dong

    (Shanxi University
    Shanxi University
    Hefei National Laboratory)

  • Zhida Song

    (Peking University)

  • Jinhai Mao

    (University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Zheng Han

    (Shanxi University
    Shanxi University
    Hefei National Laboratory
    Liaoning Academy of Materials)

  • Zhi Gang Cheng

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Institue of Microelectroincs, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Zizhao Gan

    (Peking University)

  • Jianming Lu

    (Peking University)

Abstract

Counterintuitive temperature dependence of isospin flavor polarization has recently been found in twisted bilayer graphene, where unpolarized electrons in a Fermi liquid become a spin–valley polarized insulator upon heating. So far, the effect has been limited to v = +/−1 (one electron/hole per superlattice cell), leaving open questions such as whether it is a general property of symmetry-breaking electronic phases. Here, by studying a rhombohedral trilayer graphene/boron nitride moiré superlattice, we report that at v = −3 a resistive peak emerges at elevated temperatures or in parallel magnetic fields. Concomitantly, the Hall carrier density tends to reset at the integer filling, signaling spin–valley flavor symmetry breaking. These phenomena can also be observed at v = −1 and −2 when the displacement field is large enough to suppress correlated insulators at low temperatures. Our results greatly expand the scope for observing the counterintuitive temperature dependence of flavor polarization, i.e., the regimes proximal to symmetry-breaking phases where the flavor polarization order strongly fluctuates, encouraging more experimental and theoretical exploration of isospin flavor polarization dynamics in flat-band moiré systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiangyan Han & Yuting Zou & Qianling Liu & Zhiyu Wang & Ruirui Niu & Zhuangzhuang Qu & Zhuoxian Li & Chunrui Han & Kenji Watanabe & Takashi Taniguchi & Baojuan Dong & Zhida Song & Jinhai Mao & Zheng H, 2024. "Suppression of symmetry-breaking correlated insulators in a rhombohedral trilayer graphene superlattice," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-54200-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54200-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yuan Cao & Valla Fatemi & Shiang Fang & Kenji Watanabe & Takashi Taniguchi & Efthimios Kaxiras & Pablo Jarillo-Herrero, 2018. "Unconventional superconductivity in magic-angle graphene superlattices," Nature, Nature, vol. 556(7699), pages 43-50, April.
    2. H. Polshyn & J. Zhu & M. A. Kumar & Y. Zhang & F. Yang & C. L. Tschirhart & M. Serlin & K. Watanabe & T. Taniguchi & A. H. MacDonald & A. F. Young, 2020. "Electrical switching of magnetic order in an orbital Chern insulator," Nature, Nature, vol. 588(7836), pages 66-70, December.
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