Non-Abelian fractionalization in topological minibands

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the potential for realizing non-Abelian fractional quantum states, specifically the Moore-Read state, in moiré systems with topological minibands, expanding possibilities beyond traditional Landau level systems.

Contribution

It shows, through exact diagonalization, that non-Abelian Moore-Read states can be achieved in skyrmion Chern minibands in moiré heterostructures, even with Berry curvature variations.

Findings

Moore-Read state realized at half filling in second miniband

Non-Abelian fractionalization feasible without Landau levels

Potential realization in twisted semiconductor bilayers

Abstract

Motivated by the recent discovery of fractional quantum anomalous Hall states in moir\'e systems, we consider the possibility of realizing non-Abelian phases in topological minibands. We study a family of moir\'e systems, skyrmion Chern band models, which can be realized in two-dimensional semiconductor-magnet heterostructures and also capture the essence of twisted transition metal dichalcogenide homobilayers. We show using many-body exact diagonalization that, in spite of strong Berry curvature variations in momentum space, the non-Abelian Moore-Read state can be realized at half filling of the second miniband. These results demonstrate the feasibility of non-Abelian fractionalization in moir\'e systems without Landau levels and shed light on the desirable conditions for their realization. In particular, we highlight the prospect of realizing the Moore-Read state in twisted semiconductor bilayers.