Interplay between topology and correlations in the second moir\'e band of twisted bilayer MoTe2

TL;DR

This study explores the complex interplay of topology and electron correlations in the second moiré band of twisted bilayer MoTe2, revealing new magnetic and topological phases through systematic transport measurements.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed transport analysis of the second moiré band in twisted bilayer MoTe2, uncovering ferromagnetism and Chern insulator states beyond the first band.

Findings

Observation of quantum spin Hall states at specific fillings.

Detection of ferromagnetism and Chern insulator states in the second band.

Electric field-induced quantum phase transitions.

Abstract

Topological flat bands formed in two-dimensional lattice systems offer unique opportunity to study the fractional phases of matter in the absence of an external magnetic field. Celebrated examples include fractional quantum anomalous Hall (FQAH) effects and fractional topological insulators. Recently, FQAH effects have been experimentally realized in both the twisted bilayer MoTe2 (tMoTe2) system and the rhombohedral stacked multilayer graphene/hBN moir\'e systems. To date, experimental studies mainly focus on the first moir\'e flat band, except a very recent work that studied novel transport properties in higher moir\'e bands of a 2.1{\deg} tMoTe2 device. Here, we present the systematical transport study of approximately 3{\deg} tMoTe2 devices, especially for the second moir\'e band. At {\nu} = -2 and -4, time-reversal-symmetric single and double quantum spin Hall states formed, consistent with the previous observation in 2.1{\deg} tMoTe2 device. On the other hand, we observed ferromagnetism in the second moir\'e band, and a Chern insulator state driven by out-of-plane magnetic fields at {\nu} = -3. At {\nu} = -2.2 to -2.7, finite temperature resistivity minimum with 1/T scaling at low temperatures, and large out-of-plane negative magnetoresistance have been observed. Applying out-of-plane electric field can induce quantum phase transitions at both integer and fractional filling factors. Our studies pave the way for realizing tunable topological states and other unexpected magnetic phases beyond the first moir\'e flat band based on twisted MoTe2 platform.