Wigner Crystals in Atomically Thin Heterostructures
Abstract
The first theoretical proposal of a new quantum state of matter emerging from strong electron-electron correlations was Eugene Wigner’s prediction in 1934 of the quantum phase transition in a two-dimensional (2D) electron gas between the metallic and Wigner crystal states. Close to the transition point where both interaction and kinetic energy are important, the interplay between the two is expected to lead to many surprising phenomena, including strong renormalization of the effective mass of electrons, preeminence of ring exchange terms and frustrated quantum magnetism, intermediate quantum emulsion phases. Until recently experimental studies of this transition have been lacking due to the difficulty of reaching low density electron regimes with the low level of disorder. Recently, our group used a transition metal dichalcogenide heterostructure to provide the first successful experimental demonstration of the metal-to-Wigner-crystal transition in a 2D electron gas in zero magnetic field and without the superlattice potential. In this project we will perform a comprehensive study of this transition using a combination of transport, microwave, and optical techniques.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 07, 2023
- Source ID
- FA95502110216
Entities
People
- Hongkun Park
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- President and Fellows of Harvard College
- United States Air Force