Topological $p_x+ip_y$ inter-valley coherent state in Moiré MoTe$_2$/WSe$_2$ heterobilayers

Abstract

Recently, a quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) state was observed in AB stacked moiré MoTe$_2$/WSe$_2$ heterobilayers at half-filling. More recent layer-resolved magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) measurements revealed that spin-polarized moiré bands from both the MoTe$_2$ and the WSe$_2$ layers are involved at the formation of the QAH state. This scenario is not expected by existing theories. In this work, we suggest that the observed QAH state is a new state of matter, namely, a topological $p_x+ip_y$ inter-valley coherent state (TIVC). We point out that the massive Dirac spectrum of the MoTe$_2$ moiré bands, together with the Hund's interaction and the Coulomb interactions give rise to this novel QAH state. Through a self-consistent Hartree-Fock analysis, we find a wide range of interaction strengths and displacement fields that the $p_x+ip_y$-pairing phase is energetically favourable. Besides explaining several key features of the experiments, our theory predicts that the order parameter would involve the pairing of electrons and holes with a definite momentum mismatch such that the pairing would generate a new unit cell which is three times the size of the original moiré unit cell, due to the order parameter modulations.