Ultrafast control of moiré pseudo-electromagnetic field in homobilayer semiconductors

• Published in: arXiv.org
• Main Authors: Zhai, Dawei, Wang, Yao
• Format: Paper Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 09.03.2022
• Subjects: Bias; Electric fields; Electromagnetic fields; Electromagnetic induction; Interlayers; Modulation; Moire patterns; Physics - Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics; Semiconductors; Valleys
• ISSN: 2331-8422
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2203.04726

In long-wavelength moiré patterns of homobilayer semiconductors, the layer pseudospin of electrons is subject to a sizable Zeeman field that is spatially modulated from the interlayer coupling in moiré. By interference of this spatial modulation with a homogeneous but dynamically tunable component from out-of-plane electric field, we show that the spatial-temporal profile of the overall Zeeman field therefore features a topological texture that can be controlled in an ultrafast timescale by a terahertz field or an interlayer bias. Such dynamical modulation leads to the emergence of an in-plane electric field for low energy carriers, which is related to their real space Berry curvature -- the moiré magnetic field -- through the Faraday's law of induction. These emergent electromagnetic fields, having opposite signs at the time reversal pair of valleys, can be exploited to manipulate valley and spin in the moiré landscape under the control by a bias pulse or a terahertz irradiation.