Interaction-Driven Topological Transitions in Monolayer TaIrTe$_4$ (2506.18412v1)

Abstract: Discovering materials that combine topological phenomena with correlated electron behavior is a central pursuit in quantum materials research. Monolayer TaIrTe$_4$ has recently emerged as a promising platform in this context, hosting robust quantum spin Hall insulator (QSHI) phases both within a single-particle gap and within a correlation-induced gap arising from van Hove singularities (vHSs), accessed via electrostatic doping. Its intrinsic monolayer nature offers exceptional tunability and the potential to realize a versatile array of interaction-driven topological phases. In this work, we combine theory and experiment to map the phase landscape of monolayer TaIrTe$_4$. Using Hartree-Fock calculations, we investigate the interaction-driven phase diagram near the vHSs under commensurate filling conditions. By systematically tuning the dielectric screening and strain, we uncover a rich set of ground states--including QSHI, trivial insulator, higher-order topological insulator, and metallic phase--among which are interaction-driven topological phase transitions. Experimentally, we perform both local and nonlocal transport measurements across a broad set of devices, which--due to unavoidable strain variations during fabrication-realize several phases consistent with theoretical predictions. Together, our results lay the groundwork for understanding correlation-driven topological phenomena in TaIrTe$_4$ and open new directions for engineering exotic quantum phases in low-dimensional materials beyond the limitations of moir\'e superlattices.