Prediction of time-reversal-symmetry breaking fermionic quadrupling condensate in twisted bilayer graphene

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates through Monte Carlo simulations that twisted bilayer graphene can host a fluctuation-induced fermionic quadrupling condensate that breaks time-reversal symmetry, expanding the understanding of possible condensate states in this material.

Contribution

The study introduces a fluctuation-induced quadrupling fermionic condensate in twisted bilayer graphene, highlighting a novel phase beyond traditional superconductivity.

Findings

Identification of a fluctuation-induced quadrupling fermionic condensate

Spontaneous breaking of time-reversal symmetry in the new phase

Potential of twisted bilayer graphene as a platform for exotic condensates

Abstract

Recent mean-field calculations suggest that the superconducting state of twisted bilayer graphene exhibits either a nematic order or a spontaneous breakdown of the time-reversal symmetry. The two-dimensional character of the material and the large critical temperature relative to the Fermi energy dictate that the material should have significant fluctuations. We study the effects of these fluctuations using Monte Carlo simulations. We show that in a model proposed earlier for twisted bilayer graphene there is a fluctuation-induced phase with quadrupling fermionic order for all considered parameters. This four-electron condensate, instead of superconductivity, shows a spontaneous breaking of time-reversal symmetry. Our results suggest that twisted bilayer graphene is an especially promising platform to study different types of condensates, beyond the pair-condensate paradigm.