Patterned bilayer graphene as a tunable, strongly correlated system

TL;DR

This paper proposes a method to induce and tune strong electronic correlations in bilayer graphene through electrostatic patterning, offering an alternative to moire-based systems with potential for experimental realization.

Contribution

It introduces electrostatically patterned bilayer graphene as a tunable platform for strongly correlated phenomena, distinct from moire graphene systems.

Findings

Bilayer graphene can be tuned into a strongly correlated regime via electrostatic patterning.

Monolayer graphene does not exhibit the same tunability.

The proposed technique for Coulomb screening is experimentally feasible.

Abstract

Recent observations of superconductivity in Moire graphene have lead to an intense interest in that system, with subsequent studies revealing a more complex phase diagram including correlated insulators and ferromagnetic phases. Here we propose an alternate system, electrostatically patterned bilayer graphene (PBG), in which a supermodulation is induced via metallic gates rather than the moire effect. We show that, by varying either the gap or the modulation strength, bilayer graphene can be tuned into the strongly correlated regime. Further calculations show that this is not possible in monolayer graphene. We present a general technique for addressing Coulomb screening of the periodic potential and demonstrate that this system is experimentally feasible.