Tunable bilayer Hubbard model physics in twisted WSe2 (2202.02055v1)

Abstract: Moir\'e materials with flat electronic bands provide a highly controllable quantum system for studies of strong-correlation physics and topology. In particular, angle-aligned heterobilayers of semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) with large band offset realize the single-band Hubbard models. Introduction of a new layer degree of freedom is expected to foster richer interactions, enabling Hund's physics, interlayer exciton condensation and new superconducting pairing mechanisms to name a few. Here, we report competing electronic orders in twisted AB-homobilayer WSe2, which realizes a bilayer Hubbard model in the weak interlayer hopping limit for holes. We characterize the charge order, layer polarization and magnetization of the moir\'e bilayer, subjected to an out-of-plane electric and magnetic field, by exciton sensing and magneto circular dichroism measurements. By layer-polarizing holes via the electric field, we observe a crossover from an excitonic insulator to a charge-transfer insulator at hole density of $\nu$=1 (in unit of moir\'e density), a transition from a paramagnetic to an antiferromagnetic charge-transfer insulator at $\nu$=2, and evidence for a layer-selective Mott insulator at 1<$\nu$<2. The unique coupling of charge and spin to external fields also manifests a giant magneto-electric response. Our results establish a new solid-state simulator for problems in strong-correlation physics that are described by bilayer Hubbard models.