Topological Sliding Moir\'e Heterostructure

TL;DR

This paper reveals that sliding layers in Moiré heterostructures induce nontrivial topological states characterized by Chern numbers, leading to charge pumping, which challenges the traditional view that sliding does not affect electronic properties.

Contribution

It introduces the concept that sliding in Moiré heterostructures can generate dynamic topological states with quantized charge pumping, a novel insight into their electronic behavior.

Findings

Sliding induces nontrivial topology characterized by Chern numbers.

Charge pumping occurs due to sliding motion.

Topological effects are demonstrated in models and real materials.

Abstract

We investigate the effect of sliding motion of layers in Moir\'e heterostructures on the electronic state. We show that the sliding Moir\'e heterostructure can generate nontrivial topology characterized by the first and second Chern number in the high dimensional manifold spanned by the physical dimensions and synthetic dimensions associated with the sliding displacement. The nontrivial topology implies a topological charge pumping caused by the sliding motion. We demonstrate the nontrivial topology and charge pumping explicitly in a one dimensional bi-chain model and the small-angle twisted bilayer graphene. Contrary to the conventional belief that the interlayer sliding in incommensurate Moir\'e Heterostructures does not affect the electronic structure, our results reveal that the sliding motion can generate nontrivial topology dynamically and hence cannot be neglected in the dynamical process.