Role of electron pair tunneling in untwisted bilayer TMDs

Determine the role and physical consequences of electron pair tunneling events in untwisted bilayer transition-metal dichalcogenides, particularly how such processes influence interlayer electron coherence and interlayer exciton hybridization.

Background

The discussion contrasts twisted bilayers, where symmetry breaking allows direct single-particle tunneling, with untwisted bilayers, where such tunneling is symmetry-forbidden. Even in untwisted systems, correlated pair tunneling can occur and may impact phase coherence and excitonic hybridization.

Clarifying the effect of pair tunneling is essential for understanding how coherence may be stabilized without twist and for interpreting how magnetic fields and moiré-free structures affect the observed stochastic hybridization signatures.

References

In addition, the application of an in-plane magnetic field might enable the exploration of the Pokrovsky-Talapov phase transition (Sec.~X in SI discusses that even without twisting, electron pair tunneling events can occur but their role is yet to be fully understood).

— Optical signatures of interlayer electron coherence in a bilayer semiconductor (2409.08329 - Liu et al., 12 Sep 2024) in Main text, paragraph beginning 'Third, a small twist between the TMD layers...' (closing discussion)