We develop a systematic theory for excitons subject to Fermi-Hubbard physics in moiré twisted transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs). Specifically, we consider excitons from two moiré bands with a Mott-insulating valence band sustaining 120 spin order. These “Mott-moiré excitons,” which are achievable in twisted TMD heterobilayers, are bound states of a magnetic polaron in the valence band and a free electron in the conduction band. We find significantly narrower exciton bandwidths in the presence of Hubbard physics, serving as a potential experimental signature of strong correlations. We also demonstrate the high tunability of Mott-moiré excitons through the dependence of their binding energies, diameters, and bandwidths on the moiré period. In addition, we study bound states between charges outside of the strongly correlated moiré band and find that these as well exhibit signatures of spin correlation. Our work provides guidelines for future exploration of strongly correlated excitons in triangular Hubbard systems such as twisted TMD heterobilayers.
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Spin transport in a Mott insulator of ultracold fermions
Strongly correlated materials are expected to feature unconventional transport properties, such that charge, spin, and heat conduction are potentially independent probes of the dynamics. In contrast to charge transport, the measurement of spin transport in such materials is highly challenging. We observed spin conduction and diffusion in a system of ultracold fermionic atoms that realizes the half-filled Fermi-Hubbard model. For strong interactions, spin diffusion is driven by super-exchange and doublon-hole–assisted tunneling, and strongly violates the quantum limit of charge diffusion. The technique developed in this work can be extended to finite doping, which can shed light on the complex interplay between spin and charge in the Hubbard model.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1734011
- PAR ID:
- 10099314
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Science
- Volume:
- 363
- Issue:
- 6425
- ISSN:
- 0036-8075
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 383 to 387
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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