Real-space titration and manipulation of particle-like correlated electrons in doped Mott insulator

TL;DR

This study visualizes and manipulates particle-like correlated electrons in doped 1T-TaS2, revealing their electronic structure and interactions, and demonstrating control at the atomic scale for potential quantum state engineering.

Contribution

It provides the first direct visualization and manipulation of particle-like correlated electrons in a doped Mott insulator using advanced spectroscopic techniques.

Findings

Visualization of particle-like electrons via ARPES and STS

Demonstration of manipulation through energy excitation

Insights into complex correlated interactions

Abstract

The localized (particle-like) correlated electrons deserve particular attention as they govern various exotic quantum phenomena, such as quantum spin liquids, Wigner crystals, and Mott insulators in correlated systems. However, direct observation and manipulation of these particle-like electrons at the atomic or single-electron scale remain highly challenging. Here, we successfully realize and directly visualize particle-like correlated electrons in 1T-TaS2 through hole doping. The potential-dependent local electronic structure of single particle-like electron is revealed by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) combined with theoretical calculations. The complex correlated interactions including nearest-neighbor attractive interactions and many-body repulsive interactions are further demonstrated and discussed based on the spatial distribution of particle-like electrons. Furthermore, the tentative manipulation of the particle-like electrons is successfully achieved by the energy-excitation mechanism. Our results not only provide profound insights into particle-like electrons in correlated systems, but also establish a versatile platform for designing and controlling quantum states at the atomic scale.