Correlated states controlled by tunable van Hove singularity in moir\'e WSe2

TL;DR

This study demonstrates how tuning van Hove singularities in twisted bilayer WSe2 can control various correlated electronic phases, including ferromagnetism and Chern insulators, through electric and magnetic fields.

Contribution

It reveals the direct influence of tunable van Hove singularities on correlated phases in moiré WSe2, supported by experimental measurements and theoretical calculations.

Findings

Stabilization of Stoner ferromagnetism below moiré filling one

Realization of Chern insulators at filling one

Tunable van Hove singularity crossing the Fermi level

Abstract

Twisted bilayers of transition metal dichalcogenide semiconductors have enabled the discovery of superconductivity, ferromagnetism, correlated insulators and a series of new topological phases of matter. However, the connection between these electronic phases and the underlying band structure singularities in these materials has remained largely unexplored. Here, combining the magnetic circular dichroism and electronic compressibility measurements, we investigate the influence of a van Hove singularity on the correlated phases in bilayer WSe2 with twist angle between 2-3 degrees. We demonstrate stabilizing the Stoner ferromagnetism below moir\'e lattice filling one and Chern insulators at filling one by tuning the van Hove singularity cross the Fermi level using the electric and magnetic fields. The experimental observations are supported by the continuum model band structure calculations. Our results highlight the prospect of engineering the electronic phases by tunable van Hove singularities.