Enhanced superconductivity through virtual tunneling in Bernal bilayer graphene coupled to WSe$_2$

TL;DR

This paper proposes that virtual tunneling-induced Ising spin-orbit coupling from a WSe₂ monolayer enhances superconductivity in hole-doped Bernal bilayer graphene, explaining recent experimental observations.

Contribution

It introduces a microscopic theory linking virtual tunneling to Ising spin-orbit coupling and superconductivity enhancement in graphene-WSe₂ heterostructures.

Findings

Virtual tunneling induces Ising spin-orbit coupling.

Enhanced attraction between holes explains superconductivity increase.

Dependence on twist angle affects the coupling and superconductivity.

Abstract

Motivated by a recent experiment [arXiv:2205.05087], we investigate a possible mechanism that enhances superconductivity in hole-doped Bernal bilayer graphene due to a proximate WSe$_2$ monolayer. We show that the virtual tunneling between WSe$_2$ and Bernal bilayer graphene, which is known to induce Ising spin-orbit coupling, can generate an additional attraction between two holes, providing a potential explanation for enhancing superconductivity in Bernal bilayer graphene. Using microscopic interlayer tunneling, we derive the Ising spin-orbit coupling and the effective attraction as functions of the twist angle between Bernal bilayer graphene and the WSe$_2$ monolayer. Our theory provides an intuitive and physical explanation for the intertwined relation between Ising spin-orbit coupling and superconductivity enhancement, which should motivate future studies.