Twisted-bilayer FeSe and the Fe-based superlattices

TL;DR

This paper develops continuum models for FeSe-based superlattices, revealing topological moire bands and proposing FeSe as a platform for simulating the square Hubbard model with tunable interactions.

Contribution

It introduces BM-like continuum models for FeSe heterostructures, including symmetry-based derivations of moire tunneling and analysis of topological bands without breaking time-reversal symmetry.

Findings

Identification of topological moire bands with C=0 or ±1

FeSe can simulate the square Hubbard model

System behaves as a lattice of 2D harmonic oscillators in certain limits

Abstract

We derive BM-like continuum models for the bands of superlattice heterostructures formed out of Fe-chalcogenide monolayers: (${\bf\text I}$) a single monolayer experiencing an external periodic potential, and (${\bf\text II}$) twisted bilayers with long-range moire tunneling. A symmetry derivation for the inter-layer moire tunnelling is provided for both the $\Gamma$ and $M$ high-symmetry points. In this paper, we focus on moire bands formed from hole-band maxima centered on $\Gamma$, and show the possibility of moire bands with $C=0$ or $\pm 1$ topological quantum numbers without breaking time-reversal symmetry. In the $C=0$ region for $\theta\rightarrow 0$ (and similarly in the limit of large superlattice period for ${\bf\text I}$), the system becomes a square lattice of 2D harmonic oscillators. We fit our model to FeSe and argue that it is a viable platform for the simulation of the square Hubbard model with tunable interaction strength.