arXiv subjects

Nemin Wei

Publications and source records attributed to Nemin Wei.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Signatures of a ferro-Josephson effect in twisted graphene

When a spin-polarized current is driven across a magnetic domain wall, the resulting spin-transfer torque may, beyond a critical threshold, set the wall's moments into precession. This precession modulates the Berry curvature experienced by electrons traversing the wall, producing an electromotive force that is topological in nature and proportional to the precession frequency, mapping precisely onto the DC Josephson effect and leading to the name ferro-Josephson effect. We report signatures consistent with this effect in a twisted graphene van der Waals heterostructure, where spin and valley textures are linked by exchange, Hund's coupling, and spin-orbit interactions. Tuned to fillings where the isospin degeneracy is spontaneously broken, the samples develop a sharp peak in the longitudinal resistance within a fraction of a millitesla of $B_\parallel=0$---a peak that disappears as the current is reduced toward zero. In differential resistance the feature resolves into sharp resonances that disperse with $B_\parallel$ on microtesla and picoampere scales. We argue that these arise from the current-driven precession of spin-domain-wall moments, in competition with the in-plane anisotropy set by a minuscule applied field, and that they establish nonlinear transport as a sensitive probe of isospin domain-wall dynamics at energy scales far below $k_BT$.

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arXiv2026

Metastable magnetic domains and the anomalous $B_\parallel=0$ resistance peak in twisted double bilayer graphene

In graphene moir\'es, valley polarization gives rise to orbital magnetism, manifested as an anomalous Hall effect and resulting in Barkhausen jumps in longitudinal resistance when changing domain configurations modify quasiparticle scattering. Beyond a simple picture of polarized domains, however, spin and valley textures within and between the domains are less well understood, as is the effect of these textures on transport. In the valley-polarized quarter-metal state of twisted double bilayer graphene, a sharp and metastable peak in longitudinal resistance often appears at zero in-plane magnetic field, whose microscopic origin has yet to be identified. Here, we show that this peak depends on the configuration of domains of orbital magnetism, which is itself set by the gate-voltage trajectory used to enter the ordered state and by the magnetic field --- particularly the in-plane component --- present during that trajectory. The sensitivity of the effect to in-plane magnetic field components points to spin, linked to valley polarization through spin-orbit coupling, as the key degree of freedom in both the domain formation and the resistance peak.

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arXiv2026

Multicomponent Magnetic Domain Walls in Rhombohedral Graphene

Spatial textures of magnetic order, such as domain walls and skyrmions, are fundamental objects in magnetism. In rhombohedral multilayer graphene, magnetic order involves spin and valley degrees of freedom, opening the possibility of qualitatively new spatial textures. Here, we explore this possibility through a microscopic study of a one-dimensional domain wall in the valley-imbalanced quarter-metal phase of rhombohedral graphene. We uncover two different classes of domain walls. One resembles a conventional magnetic domain wall, locally rotating between the two bulk states, whereas the other is intrinsically multicomponent and explores states that are not occupied in either bulk domain. Which texture is realized is controlled by the competition between intervalley Hund's coupling and spin-orbit coupling, and we identify experimental signatures to distinguish them. We further show that, in a superconducting junction formed across the wall, the superconducting phase difference couples directly to the intervalley-coherent phase of the texture. Precession of this internal phase can therefore generate a voltage across the junction. Our theory shows that rhombohedral graphene indeed has magnetic textures beyond conventional magnet and that their dynamics can couple to superconducting transport.

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arXiv2026

Lifetime and spectral function of topological heavy fermions

Twisted bilayer graphene provides a paradigmatic platform for exploring the interplay between electronic topology and strong correlations. Within the topological heavy fermion model [Song and Bernevig, Phys. Rev. Lett. 129, 047601 (2022)], topology and electron interactions are brought together by including a weak hybridization between the bands of itinerant $c$- and localized $f$-electrons. Hybridization infuses concentrated Berry curvature into the $f$-band, while leaving it flat. These band features have motivated recent proposals of a Mott semimetal phase above the flavor-ordering temperature at charge neutrality. In this work, we develop an analytic theory of the quasiparticle dispersion and lifetime in the Mott semimetal. We reformulate the interacting flat-band Hamiltonian as an on-site Hubbard interaction defined on a set of non-orthogonal orbitals, and compute the electron Green's function using the equation-of-motion method, in close analogy with the Hubbard-III approximation. Unlike the conventional Hubbard model, in our case this approximation is controlled by a well-defined small parameter in the theory. We evaluate the electron self-energy and demonstrate the emergence of well-defined low-energy quasiparticles with the dispersion and relaxation rate proportional to the interaction strength. The quasiparticle spectrum is well-resolved in energy and in momentum down to the very vicinity of the Fermi level. Our results illustrate unconventional spectral properties arising from strong correlations and nontrivial quantum geometry, and have direct relevance for spectroscopic probes such as quantum twisting microscope experiments.

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arXiv2025

Tunneling spectroscopy of two-dimensional superconductors with the quantum twisting microscope

The ongoing discoveries of graphene-based superconductors underscore the quest to understand the structure of new superconducting orders. We develop a theory that facilitates the use of the quantum twisting microscope (QTM) for that purpose. This work investigates momentum-conserving tunneling across a planar junction formed by a normal monolayer graphene tip and a superconducting graphene sample within the QTM setting. We show that the bias dependence of the zero-temperature tunneling conductance exhibits singularities that provide momentum-resolved information about the Bogoliubov quasiparticle spectra, including the superconducting gap. Using a model of superconducting twisted bilayer graphene (TBG), we illustrate that simultaneously tuning the tip doping level and the tip-sample twist angle allows for measuring the momentum-resolved superconducting gap in TBG. Our results indicate that momentum-conserving tunneling spectroscopy with the QTM is a promising method for exploring superconductivity in two-dimensional van der Waals materials.

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arXiv2025

Localized Excitons and Landau-Level Mixing in Time-Reversal Symmetric Pairs of Chern Bands

We study Landau-level mixing in a time-reversal-symmetric Hamiltonian composed of two sets of Landau levels with opposite magnetic field, relevant to moir\'e minibands in twisted homobilayer transition-metal dichalcogenides in the adiabatic limit, where electrons in opposite valleys have flat Chern bands with opposite Chern numbers. Strong spin-orbit coupling polarizes spins in opposite directions in opposite valleys, separating Coulomb interactions into like-spin ($V^{\uparrow\uparrow}$) and opposite-spin ($V^{\uparrow\downarrow}$). Using degenerate perturbation theory, we compute Landau-level mixing corrections to $V^{\uparrow\uparrow}$ and $V^{\uparrow\downarrow}$ for different filling fractions. In the lowest Landau level, screening exhibits an even-odd effect: $V^{\uparrow\uparrow}$ is reduced more strongly than $V^{\uparrow\downarrow}$ in even-$m$ angular momentum Haldane pseudopotential and less strongly in odd-$m$ angular momentum ones. In the first Landau level, the short-range part ($m=0,1$) of $V^{\uparrow\downarrow}$ is reduced comparably to $V^{\uparrow\uparrow}$, while the strongest spin anisotropy appears in the $m=2$ pseudopotential. These novel short-range spin correlations have important implications for candidate correlated phases of fractional quantum spin Hall insulators. A distinctive feature of this time-reversal-symmetric Hamiltonian, absent in conventional quantum Hall systems, is that spin-flip excitations form localized quasiparticles. We compute their excitation spectrum and predict a non-monotonic dependence of the ordering temperature of Chern ferromagnetism in MoTe$_2$ on the Landau-level mixing parameter.

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arXiv2025

Topological excitonic insulators in electron bilayers modulated by twisted hBN

Equilibrium interlayer exciton condensation is common in bilayer quantum Hall systems and is characterized by spontaneous phase coherence between isolated layers. It has been predicted that similar physics can occur in the absence of a magnetic field in some two-dimensional semiconductor bilayers. In this work we consider the case of two transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) monolayers separated by a twisted hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) bilayer or multilayer. The hBN layers suppress tunneling between the TMD layers so that phase coherence is spontaneous when it is present. When twisted, the hBN layers also form a ferroelectric moir\'e pattern that applies opposite triangular-lattice modulation potentials to the two TMD layers. We show via mean-field theory that at total hole filling per moir\'e unit cell $\nu=1$, this geometry can favor a chiral p-wave exciton condensate state in which the quantum anomalous Hall effect coexists with counter-flow superfluidity. We present a mean-field phase diagram for TMD hole bilayers modulated by twisted hBN, discuss the conditions needed for the realization of the p-wave condensate state, and propose experiments that could confirm its presence.

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arXiv2025

Theory of plasmon spectroscopy with the quantum twisting microscope

We consider plasmon-assisted electron tunneling in a quantum twisting microscope (QTM). The dependence of the differential conductance on the two control parameters of the QTM -- the twist angle and bias -- reveals the plasmon spectrum as well as the strength of plasmon-electron interactions in the sample. We perform microscopic calculations for twisted bilayer graphene (TBG), to predict the plasmon features in the tunneling spectra of TBG close to the magic angle for different screening environments. Our work establishes a general framework for inelastic tunneling spectroscopy of collective electronic excitations using the quantum twisting microscope.

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arXiv2024

Dirac-point spectroscopy of flat-band systems with the quantum twisting microscope

Motivated by the recent development of the quantum twisting microscope, we formulate a theory of elastic momentum-resolved tunneling across a planar tunnel junction between a monolayer graphene layer situated on a tip and a twisting graphene-based sample. We elucidate features in the dependence of the tunnel current on bias and twist angle, which reflect the sample band structure and allow the tip to probe the momentum-and energy-resolved single-particle excitations of the sample. While the strongest features originate from the Fermi edge of the tip, we argue that features associated with the tip Dirac points provide a more immediate and precise map of the sample band structure. We specifically compute the low-temperature tunneling spectrum of magic angle twisted bilayer graphene (MATBG) rotated relative to the tip by nearly commensurate angles, highlighting the potential of Dirac-point spectroscopy to measure single-particle spectral functions of flat bands along specific lines in reciprocal space. Furthermore, our analysis of tunneling matrix elements suggests a method to extract the ratio of the intra-and inter-sublattice tunneling parameters $w_0/w_1$ of MATBG from the differential tunneling conductance. Finally, we discuss signatures of $C_{3z}$ symmetry breaking in the tunneling spectrum using strained MATBG as an example. Our work establishes a general theoretical framework for Dirac-point spectroscopy of flat-band systems using the quantum twisting microscope.

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arXiv2024

Magnetism in the Dilute Electron Gas of Rhombohedral Multilayer Graphene

Lightly-doped rhombohedral multilayer graphene has recently emerged as one of the most promising material platforms for exploring electronic phases driven by strong Coulomb interactions and non-trivial band topology. This review highlights recent advancements in experimental techniques that deepen our understanding of the electronic properties of these systems, especially through the application of weak-field magnetic oscillations for studying phase transitions and Fermiology. Theoretically, we advocate modeling these systems using an electron gas framework, influenced primarily by two major energy scales: the long-range Coulomb potential and band energy. The interplay between these energies drives transitions between paramagnetic and ferromagnetic states, while smaller energy scales like spin-orbit coupling and sublattice-valley-dependent interactions at the atomic lattice scale shape the (magnetic anisotropic energy) differences between distinct symmetry-broken states. We provide first-principles estimates of lattice-scale coupling constants for Bernal bilayer graphene under strong displacement field, identifying the on-site inter-valley scattering repulsion, with a strength of $g_{\perp \perp}=269\text{meV nm}^2$ as the most significant short-range interaction. The mean-field phase diagram is analyzed and compared with experimental phase diagrams. New results on spin and valley paramagnons are presented, highlighting enhanced paramagnetic susceptibility at finite wavevectors and predicting valley and spin density-wave instabilities. The interplay between superconductivity and magnetism, particularly under the influence of spin-orbit coupling, is critically assessed. The review concludes with a summary of key findings and potential directions for future research.

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arXiv2024

Orbital Competition in Bilayer Graphene's Fractional Quantum Hall Effect

The lowest Landau level of bilayer graphene has an octet of internal degrees of freedom, composed from spin, valley and orbital two-level systems. Dominance of $n=0$ orbitals over $n=1$ orbitals in low energy quantum fluctuations leads to distinct fractional quantum Hall characteristics compared dominance of $n=1$ over $n=0$. The competition between $n=0$ and $n=1$ orbitals depends sensitively on particle-hole asymmetry and on Lamb shifts due to exchange interactions with the negative energy sea, which must be accounted for simultaneously in assessing the orbital competition. We identify the circumstances under which $n=1$, which supports strong even-denominator FQH states with non-abelian quasiparticles, emerges robustly as the low-energy Landau level.

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arXiv2024

Landau-Level Mixing and SU(4) Symmetry Breaking in Graphene

Recent scanning tunneling microscopy experiments on graphene at charge neutrality under strong magnetic fields have uncovered a ground state characterized by Kekul\'e distortion (KD). In contrast, non-local spin and charge transport experiments in double-encapsulated graphene, which has a higher dielectric constant, have identified an antiferromagnetic (AF) ground state. We propose a mechanism to reconcile these conflicting observations, by showing that Landau-level mixing can drive a transition from AF to KD with the reduction of the dielectric screening. Our conclusion is drawn from studying the effect of Landau-level mixing on the lattice-scale, valley-dependent interactions to leading order in graphene's fine structure constant $\kappa = e^2/(\hbar v_F \epsilon)$. This analysis provides three key insights: 1) Valley-dependent interactions remain predominantly short-range with the $m=0$ Haldane pseudopotential being at least an order of magnitude greater than the others, affirming the validity of delta-function approximation for these interactions. 2) The phase transition between the AF and KD states is driven by the microscopic process in the double-exchange Feynman diagram. 3) The magnitudes of the coupling constants are significantly boosted by remote Landau levels. Our model also provides a theoretical basis for numerical studies of fractional quantum Hall states in graphene.

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arXiv2024

Gate-tunable topological phases in superlattice modulated bilayer graphene

Superlattice potential modulation can produce flat minibands in Bernal-stacked bilayer graphene. In this work we study how band topology and interaction-induced symmetry-broken phases in this system are controlled by tuning the displacement field and the shape and strength of the superlattice potential. We use an analytic perturbative analysis to demonstrate that topological flat bands are favored by a honeycomb-lattice-shaped potential, and numerics to show that the robustness of topological bands depends on both the displacement field strength and the periodicity of the superlattice potential. At integer fillings of the topological flat bands, the strength of the displacement field and the superlattice potential tune phase transitions between quantum anomalous Hall insulator, trivial insulator, and metallic states. We present mean-field phase diagrams in a gate voltage parameter space at filling factor $\nu=1$, and discuss the prospects of realizing quantum anomalous Hall insulators and fractional Chern insulators when the superlattice potential modulation is produced by dielectric patterning or adjacent moir\'e materials.

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arXiv2023

Weak localization as a probe of intervalley coherence in graphene multilayers

Spontaneous intervalley coherence is suspected in several different graphene multilayer systems, but is difficult to confirm because of a paucity of convenient experimental signatures. Here we suggest that magneto-conductance features associated with quantum corrections to Drude conductivity can serve as a smoking gun for intervalley coherence that does not break time-reversal symmetry. In this class of ordered multilayer quantum transport corrections can produce weak localization or weak antilocalization, depending on whether the valley order belongs to the orthogonal or symplectic symmetry class. Our analysis motivates low-temperature weak-field magnetoresistance measurements in graphene multilayers in which time-reversal invariant intervalley coherent order is conjectured.

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arXiv2023

Magic Angles and Fractional Chern Insulators in Twisted Homobilayer TMDs

We explain the appearance of magic angles and fractional Chern insulators in twisted K-valley homobilayer transition metal dichalcogenides by mapping their continuum model to a Landau level problem. Our approach relies on an adiabatic approximation for the quantum mechanics of valence band holes in a layer-pseudospin field that is valid for sufficiently small twist angles and on a lowest Landau level approximation that is valid for sufficiently large twist angles. It simply explains why the quantum geometry of the lowest moir\'e miniband is nearly ideal at particular flat-band twist angles, predicts that topological flat bands occur only when the valley-dependent moir\'e potential is sufficiently strong compared to the interlayer tunneling amplitude, and provides a powerful starting point for the study of interactions

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arXiv2023

Partial condensation of mobile excitons in graphene multilayers

At a large displacement field, in rhomboedral and Bernal-stacked graphene a normal paramagnetic state transitions to a correlated state. Recent experiments showed that such systems have several phase transitions as a function of the carrier density. The phase adjacent to a paramagnetic state has anomalously high resistance and reduced degeneracy of the Fermi sea. We show that both phenomena can be explained through a concept of partial intervalley exciton condensation: a fraction of particles condenses into excitons, and another forms an intervalley coherent Fermi liquid. The exciton part of the system do not contribute to the electrical current thus increasing the resistance. Within this paradigm, the increase in the resistance has entirely geometrical origin. We check validity of the phenomenological theory through numerical calculations. We also show that the quantum oscillation data should not be very different between the partial excitonic state and the intervalley coherent states suggested by other authors. Further, we suggest STM/AFM or Raman spectroscopy to have a conclusive evidence for the occurrence of the partial exciton condensation that we suggest in this paper.

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arXiv2022

Layer Pseudospin Magnetism in Transition-Metal-Dichalcogenide Double-Moir\'es

Spontaneous order of layer pseudospins in two-dimensional bilayers is common in quantum Hall systems, where it is responsible for hysteretic responses to gate fields in states with Ising order, and giant drag voltages in states with XY (spontaneous inter-layer phase coherence) order. In this article we predict that layer pseudospin order will also occur in double-moir\'e strongly correlated two-dimensional electron systems. We comment on similarities and differences in the competition between the two types of order in quantum Hall and double-moir\'e systems, and relate our findings to previous work on Falicov-Kimball models of electronic ferroelectrics.

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arXiv2022

Spin and Orbital Metallic Magnetism in Rhombohedral Trilayer Graphene

We provide a complete theoretical interpretation of the metallic broken spin/valley symmetry states recently discovered in ABC trilayer graphene (ABC) perturbed by a large transverse displacement field. Our conclusions combine insights from ABC trilayer graphene electronic structure models and mean field theory, and are guided by precise magneto-oscillation Fermi-surface-area measurements. We conclude that the physics of ABC trilayer graphene is shaped by the principle of momentum-space condensation, which favors Fermi surface reconstructions enabled by broken spin/valley flavor symmetries when the single-particle bands imply thin annular Fermi seas. We find one large outer Fermi surface enclosed majority-flavor states and one or more small inner hole-like Fermi surfaces enclosed minority-flavor states that are primarily responsible for nematic order. The smaller surfaces can rotate along a ring of van-Hove singularities or reconstruct into multiple Fermi surfaces with little cost in energy. We propose that the latter property is responsible for the quantum oscillation frequency fractionalization seen experimentally in some regions of the carrier-density/displacement-field phase diagram.

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