Moiré heterostructures as a condensed-matter quantum simulator

• Published in: Nature physics Vol. 17; no. 2; pp. 155 - 163
• Main Authors: Kennes, Dante M., Claassen, Martin, Xian, Lede, Georges, Antoine, Millis, Andrew J., Hone, James, Dean, Cory R., Basov, D. N., Pasupathy, Abhay N., Rubio, Angel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.02.2021; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Publishing Group [2005-....]; Nature Publishing Group (NPG)
• Subjects: 639/301/1034; 639/301/119/2792; 639/301/357/1018; 639/766/119/995; Accessibility; Atomic; Classical and Continuum Physics; Complex Systems; Condensed Matter; Condensed Matter Physics; Correlation analysis; Heterostructures; Mathematical and Computational Physics; Molecular; Optical and Plasma Physics; Phase diagrams; Physicists; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Review Article; Simulation; Theoretical; Topology; Two-dimensional materials; Topological matter; Electronic properties and materials; Theory and computation
• ISSN: 1745-2473; 1745-2481
• DOI: 10.1038/s41567-020-01154-3

Twisted van der Waals heterostructures have latterly received prominent attention for their many remarkable experimental properties and the promise that they hold for realizing elusive states of matter in the laboratory. We propose that these systems can, in fact, be used as a robust quantum simulation platform that enables the study of strongly correlated physics and topology in quantum materials. Among the features that make these materials a versatile toolbox are the tunability of their properties through readily accessible external parameters such as gating, straining, packing and twist angle; the feasibility to realize and control a large number of fundamental many-body quantum models relevant in the field of condensed-matter physics; and finally, the availability of experimental readout protocols that directly map their rich phase diagrams in and out of equilibrium. This general framework makes it possible to robustly realize and functionalize new phases of matter in a modular fashion, thus broadening the landscape of accessible physics and holding promise for future technological applications. Moiré heterostructures have latterly captured the attention of condensed-matter physicists. This Review Article explores the idea of adopting them as a quantum simulation platform that enables the study of strongly correlated physics and topology in quantum materials.