Dirac-point spectroscopy of flat-band systems with the quantum twisting microscope

TL;DR

This paper develops a theoretical framework for Dirac-point spectroscopy using the quantum twisting microscope, enabling detailed probing of flat-band systems like magic angle twisted bilayer graphene through elastic momentum-resolved tunneling.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive theory of elastic tunneling spectroscopy that maps the sample's band structure and allows extraction of key parameters in flat-band systems.

Findings

Features in tunneling current reveal sample band structure.

Tip Dirac points provide precise mapping of the sample.

Method to estimate intra- and inter-sublattice tunneling ratios.

Abstract

Motivated by the recent development of the quantum twisting microscope, we formulate a theory of elastic momentum-resolved tunneling across a planar tunnel junction between a monolayer graphene layer situated on a tip and a twisting graphene-based sample. We elucidate features in the dependence of the tunnel current on bias and twist angle, which reflect the sample band structure and allow the tip to probe the momentum-and energy-resolved single-particle excitations of the sample. While the strongest features originate from the Fermi edge of the tip, we argue that features associated with the tip Dirac points provide a more immediate and precise map of the sample band structure. We specifically compute the low-temperature tunneling spectrum of magic angle twisted bilayer graphene (MATBG) rotated relative to the tip by nearly commensurate angles, highlighting the potential of Dirac-point spectroscopy to measure single-particle spectral functions of flat bands along specific lines in reciprocal space. Furthermore, our analysis of tunneling matrix elements suggests a method to extract the ratio of the intra-and inter-sublattice tunneling parameters $w_0/w_1$ of MATBG from the differential tunneling conductance. Finally, we discuss signatures of $C_{3z}$ symmetry breaking in the tunneling spectrum using strained MATBG as an example. Our work establishes a general theoretical framework for Dirac-point spectroscopy of flat-band systems using the quantum twisting microscope.