arXiv subjects

Vladimir Fal'ko

Publications and source records attributed to Vladimir Fal'ko.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Electron binding by charge disorder surrounding gapped bilayer graphene

Bilayer graphene (BLG) is a unique electronic material offering electrostatic tunability of its band gap. Here, we study how charge disorder in the dielectric environment modifies band-edge states by binding electrons and holes to Coulomb centres, taking into account the in- and out-of-plane dielectric response of Bernal bilayers. We apply this framework to (a) hBN-encapsulated medium-size-gap BLG used for gate-defined quantum dots, and (b) BLG under double n/p ionic gating. In hBN/BLG/hBN, we find that single remote charges produce only weakly bound states, with binding energies generally small compared with the BLG gap. Under ionic gating, we find that the bound states are too large to be trapped by individual ions -- localisation arises from fluctuations in the ion density, whose magnitude is limited by Coulomb charging energy at the freezing temperature $T_f$ of the ionic configuration. Thus, in both regimes, charge disorder does not produce deep midgap states, with the bound states remaining closer to the conduction and valence band edges.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2026

Bandwidth-Limited Critical Currents in Electrically Tunable Moiré Bands

Moiré superlattices host narrow minibands whose bandwidth governs correlated and topological phases. Here, we demonstrate that the bandwidth also sets the critical current for the onset of out-of-equilibrium transport. In bilayer graphene aligned to hexagonal boron nitride, we explore the high-current transport regime as we continuously flatten the valence miniband using an out-of-plane displacement field. We observe a significant reduction in the critical current, which is captured by a minimal analytical model and corresponds to the calculated narrowing of the miniband. Moreover, by comparing distinct moiré platforms, we show that the scaling between critical current and bandwidth is a universal feature of graphene superlattices. Our results reveal a direct link between miniband dispersion and high-current transport, and establish this regime as a fast and accessible electrical probe of bandwidth evolution.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2026

Resonant Structure of Second Harmonic Generation in Multilayer Graphene Polytypes

Second harmonic generation (SHG) is a powerful optical tool for identifying non-centrosymmetric crystalline structures. Here, we analyze SHG in multilayer graphenes (MLG), with a focus on its dependence on the stacking order, encapsulation environment and biasing which break inversion symmetry in multilayers, as well as the SHG sensitivity to the electron-hole asymmetry in the MLG spectra and doping. In particular, we identify stacking-order-dependent resonant features in the SHG spectra for trilayers and tetralayers, suggesting that infra-red range SHG offers a non-invasive characterization method for distinguishing between MLG polytypes, as well as optical identification of crystallographic direction in MLG films.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2026

Refined DFT recipe and renormalisation of band-edge parameters for electrons in monolayer MoS$_2$ informed by the measured spin-orbit splitting

Conduction band-edge spin-orbit splitting (SOS) in monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides determines a competition between bright and dark excitons and sets conditions for spintronics applications of these semiconductors. Here, we report the SOS measurement for electrons in monolayer MoS$_2$, found from the threshold density, $n_*$, for the upper spin-orbit-split band population, which exceeds by an order of magnitude the values expected from the conventional density functional theory (DFT). Theoretically, half of the observed value can be attributed to the exchange enhancement of SOS in a finite-density electron gas, but explaining the rest requires refining the DFT approach. As the conduction band SOS in MoS$_2$ is set by a delicate balance between the contribution of sulphur $p_x$ and $p_y$ orbitals and $d_{z^2}-d_{xz}$ and $d_{z^2}-d_{yz}$ mixing in molybdenum, we use a DFT+U+V framework for fine-tuning the orbital composition of the relevant band-edge states. An optimised choice of Hubbard U/V parameters produces close agreement with the experimentally observed conduction band SOS in MoS$_2$, simultaneously resulting in the valence-band SOS and the quasi-particle band gap which are closer to their values established in the earlier-published experiments.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Classical vs quantum dynamics and the onset of chaos in a macrospin system

We study a periodically driven macrospin system with anisotropic long-range interactions and collective dissipation, described by a Lindblad master equation. In the thermodynamic limit ($N\to\infty$), a mean-field treatment yields classical equations of motion, whose dynamics are characterized via the maximal Lyapunov exponent (MLE). Focusing on the thermodynamic limit, we map out chaotic, quasiperiodic, and periodic phases via bifurcation diagrams, MLEs, and Fourier spectra of evolved observables, identifying classic period-doubling bifurcations and fractal boundaries in the regions of attractors. Finite-size quantum simulations in the Dicke basis reveal that while both quantum and classical systems exhibit diverse dynamical phases, finite-size effects suppress some behaviors present in the thermodynamic limit. The sign of $λ_{\mathrm{max}}$ serves as a key indicator of convergence between quantum and classical dynamics, which agree over timescales up to the Lyapunov time. Analysis of the density matrix shows that convergence occurs only when its nonzero elements are sharply localized. However, the nonconvergence does not imply a fundamental difference between quantum and classical dynamics: in chaotic regimes, although the evolution orbits of quantum and classical systems show significant differences, quantum evolution becomes mixed and diffusively explores the Hilbert space, signaling quantum chaos, which can be confirmed by the delocalized nature of the density matrix.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Single-photon detection enabled by negative differential conductivity in moiré superlattices

Detecting individual light quanta is essential for quantum information, space exploration, advanced machine vision, and fundamental science. Here, we introduce a novel single photon detection mechanism using highly photosensitive non-equilibrium electron phases in moiré materials. Using tunable bands in bilayer graphene/hexagonal-boron nitride superlattices, we engineer negative differential conductance and a sensitive bistable state capable of detecting single photons. Operating in this regime, we demonstrate single-photon counting at mid-infrared (11.3 microns) and visible wavelengths (675 nanometres) and temperatures up to 25 K. This detector offers new prospects for broadband, high-temperature quantum technologies with CMOS compatibility and seamless integration into photonic integrated circuits (PICs). Our analysis suggests the mechanism underlying our device operation originates from negative differential velocity, and represents an important milestone in the field of high-bias transport in two-dimensional moiré quantum materials.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Gate-tunable band-edge in few-layer MoS$_2$

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have garnered significant research interest due to the variation in band-edge locations within the hexagonal Brillouin zone between single-layer and bulk configurations. In monolayers, the conduction band minima are centered at the $K$-points, whereas in multilayers, they shift to the $Q$-points, midway between the $Γ$ and $K$ points. In this study, we conduct magnetotransport experiments to measure the occupation in the $Q$ and $K$ valleys in fourlayer molybdenum disulfide (MoS$_2$). We demonstrate electrostatic tunability of the conduction band edge by combining our experimental results with a hybrid $k\cdot p$ tight-binding model that accounts for interlayer screening effects in a self-consistent manner. Furthermore, we extend our model to bilayer and trilayer MoS$_2$, reconciling prior experimental results and quantifying the tunable range of band edges in atomically thin TMDs.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2024

Electronic properties of stacking faults in Bernal graphite

Using the tight-binding model of graphite, incorporating all Slonczewski-Weiss-McClure parameters, we compute the spectrum of two-dimensional states of electrons bound to a stacking fault in Bernal graphite. We find that those bands retain characteristic features of the low-energy bands of a rhombohedral graphene trilayer, which actually represents the lattice structure the fault. Based on the self-consistent analysis of charge and potential distribution across the fault layers, we determine the shape of the Fermi contour for the 2D band, which has the form of three pockets with a hole-like conic dispersion and Dirac points above the Fermi level. The computed frequency of Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations and the cyclotron mass of the fault-bound charge carriers (at the Fermi level) are sufficiently different from the corresponding bulk values in graphite, making such stacking faults identifiable by quantum transport and cyclotron resonance measurements.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2024

Exchange-enhanced spin-orbit splitting and its density dependence for electrons in monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides

We show that spin-orbit splitting (SOS) in monolayers of semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) is substantially enhanced by electron-electron interaction. This effect, similar to the exchange-enhancement of the electron g-factor, is most pronounced for conduction band electrons (in particular, in MoS$_2$), and it has a non-monotonic dependence on the carrier sheet density, $n$. That is, the SOS enhancement is peaked at the onset of filling of the higher-energy spin-split band by electrons, $n_*$, which also separates the regimes of slow (at $n n_*$) spin and valley relaxation of charge carriers. Moreover, this density itself is determined by the enhanced SOS value, making the account of exchange renormalisation important for the analysis of spintronic performance of field-effect transistors based on two-dimensional TMDs.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2024

Correlated Electron Effects in Chromium Trihalide Hetostructures with Graphene: A Tight-Binding Model Perspective

In this study, we present an effective tight-binding model for an accurate description of the lowest energy quadruplet of conduction band in a ferromagnetic CrX$_3$ monolayer, tuned to the complementary \textit{ab initio} density functional theory simulations. This model, based on a minimum number of chromium orbitals, captures a distinctively flat dispersion in those bands but requires taking into account hoppings beyond nearest neighbours, revealing ligand-mediated electron pathways connecting remote chromium sites. Doping of states in the lowest conduction band of CrX$_3$ requires charge transfer, which, according to recent studies, can occur in graphene(G)/CrX$_3$ heterostructures. Here, we use the detailed description of the lowest conduction band in CrI$_3$ to show that G/CrI$_3$/G and G/CrI$_3$ are type-II heterostructures where light holes in graphene would coexist with heavy electrons in the magnetic layer, where the latter can be characterised by Wigner parameter $r_s\sim 15-20$ (as estimated for hBN-encapsulated structures).

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Resonant band hybridization in alloyed transition metal dichalcogenide heterobilayers

Bandstructure engineering using alloying is widely utilised for achieving optimised performance in modern semiconductor devices. While alloying has been studied in monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides, its application in van der Waals heterostructures built from atomically thin layers is largely unexplored. Here, we fabricate heterobilayers made from monolayers of WSe$_2$ (or MoSe$_2$) and Mo$_x$W$_{1-x}$Se$_2$ alloy and observe nontrivial tuning of the resultant bandstructure as a function of concentration $x$. We monitor this evolution by measuring the energy of photoluminescence (PL) of the interlayer exciton (IX) composed of an electron and hole residing in different monolayers. In Mo$_x$W$_{1-x}$Se$_2$/WSe$_2$, we observe a strong IX energy shift of $\approx$100 meV for $x$ varied from 1 to 0.6. However, for $x<0.6$ this shift saturates and the IX PL energy asymptotically approaches that of the indirect bandgap in bilayer WSe$_2$. We theoretically interpret this observation as the strong variation of the conduction band K valley for $x>0.6$, with IX PL arising from the K-K transition, while for $x<0.6$, the bandstructure hybridization becomes prevalent leading to the dominating momentum-indirect K-Q transition. This bandstructure hybridization is accompanied with strong modification of IX PL dynamics and nonlinear exciton properties. Our work provides foundation for bandstructure engineering in van der Waals heterostructures highlighting the importance of hybridization effects and opening a way to devices with accurately tailored electronic properties.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2023

Thermopower in hBN/graphene/hBN superlattices

Thermoelectric effects are highly sensitive to the asymmetry in the density of states around the Fermi energy and can be exploited as probes of the electronic structure. We experimentally study thermopower in high-quality monolayer graphene, within heterostructures consisting of complete hBN encapsulation and 1D edge contacts, where the graphene and hBN lattices are aligned. When graphene is aligned to one of the hBN layers, we demonstrate the presence of additional sign reversals in the thermopower as a function of carrier density, directly evidencing the presence of the moiré superlattice. We show that the temperature dependence of the thermopower enables the assessment of the role of built-in strain variation and van Hove singularities and hints at the presence of Umklapp electron-electron scattering processes. As the thermopower peaks around the neutrality point, this allows to probe the energy spectrum degeneracy. Further, when graphene is double-aligned with the top and bottom hBN crystals, the thermopower exhibits features evidencing multiple cloned Dirac points caused by the differential super-moiré lattice. For both cases we evaluate how well the thermopower agrees with Mott's equation. Finally, we show the same superlattice device can exhibit a temperature-driven thermopower reversal from positive to negative and vice versa, by controlling the carrier density. The study of thermopower provides an alternative approach to study the electronic structure of 2D superlattices, whilst offering opportunities to engineer the thermoelectric response on these heterostructures.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Kagomé quantum oscillations in graphene superlattices

Periodic systems feature the Hofstadter butterfly spectrum produced by Brown--Zak minibands of electrons formed when magnetic field flux through the lattice unit cell is commensurate with flux quantum and manifested by magneto-transport oscillations. Quantum oscillations, such as Shubnikov -- de Haas effect and Aharonov--Bohm effect, are also characteristic for electronic systems with closed orbits in real space and reciprocal space. Here we show the intricate relation between these two phenomena by tracing quantum magneto-oscillations to Lifshitz transitions in graphene superlattices, where they persist even at relatively low fields and very much above liquid-helium temperatures. The oscillations originate from Aharonov--Bohm interference on cyclotron trajectories that form a kagomé-shaped network characteristic for Lifshitz transitions. In contrast to Shubnikov - de Haas oscillations, the kagomé oscillations are robust against thermal smearing and they can be detected even when the Hofstadter butterfly spectrum is undermined by electron's scattering. We expect that kagomé quantum oscillations are generic to rotationally-symmetric two-dimensional crystals close to Lifshitz transitions.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

Engineering of the topological magnetic moment of electrons in bilayer graphene using strain and electrical bias

Topological properties of electronic states in multivalley two-dimensional materials, such as mono- and bilayer graphene, or thin films of rhombohedral graphite, give rise to various unusual magneto-transport regimes. Here, we investigate the tunability of the topological magnetic moment (related to the Berry curvature) of electronic states in bilayer graphene using strain and vertical bias. We show how one can controllably vary the valley $g$-factor of the band-edge electrons, $g_v^*$, across the range $10 < |g_v^*| < 200$, and we discuss the manifestations of the topological magnetic moment in the anomalous contribution towards the Hall conductivity and in the Landau level spectrum.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

Kagomé network of chiral miniband-edge states in double-aligned graphene-hexagonal boron nitride structures

Twistronic heterostructures have recently emerged as a new class of quantum electronic materials with properties determined by the twist angle between the adjacent two-dimensional materials. Here we study moiré superlattice minibands in graphene (G) encapsulated in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) with an almost perfect alignment with both the top and bottom hBN crystals. We show that, for such an orientation of the unit cells of the hBN layers that locally breaks inversion symmetry of the graphene lattice, the hBN/G/hBN structure features a Kagomé network of topologically protected chiral states with energies near the miniband edge, propagating along the lines separating the areas with different miniband Chern numbers.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

Umklapp electron-electron scattering in bilayer graphene moiré superlattice

Recent experimental advances have been marked by the observations of ballistic electron transport in moiré superlattices in highly aligned heterostructures of graphene and hexagonal boron nitride (hBN). Here, we predict that a high-quality graphene bilayer aligned with an hBN substrate features $T^2$-dependent resistivity caused by umklapp electron-electron (Uee) scattering from the moiré superlattice, that is, a momentum kick by Bragg scattering experienced by a pair of electrons. Substantial Uee scattering appears upon $p$-doping of the bilayer above a threshold density, which depends on the twist angle between graphene and hBN, and its contribution towards the resistivity grows rapidly with hole density until it reaches a peak value, whose amplitude changes non-monotonically with the superlattice period. We also analyse the influence of an electrostatically induced bandgap in the bilayer and trigonal warping it enhances in the electron dispersion on the electron-electron umklapp scattering.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

Scaleability of dielectric susceptibility $ε_{zz}$ with the number of layers and additivity of ferroelectric polarization in van der Waals semiconductors

We study the dielectric response of few layered crystals of various transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) and hexagonal Boron Nitride (hBN). We showed that the out-of-plane polarizability of a multilayer crystal (which characterizes response to the external displacement field) scales linearly with the number of layers, $α_{zz}^{NL} =N α_{zz}^{1L}$, independently of the stacking configuration in the film. We also established additivity of ferroelectric polarizations of consecutive interfaces in case when such interfaces have broken inversion symmetry. Then we used the obtained data of monolayer $α_{zz}^{1L}$ to calculate the values of the dielectric susceptibilities for semiconductor TMDs and hBN bulk crystals.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

Probing two-electron multiplets in bilayer graphene quantum dots

We report on finite bias spectroscopy measurements of the two-electron spectrum in a gate defined bilayer graphene (BLG) quantum dot for varying magnetic fields. The spin and valley degree of freedom in BLG give rise to multiplets of 6 orbital symmetric and 10 orbital anti-symmetric states. We find that orbital symmetric states are lower in energy and separated by $\approx 0.4 - 0.8$ meV from orbital anti-symmetric states. The symmetric multiplet exhibits an additional energy splitting of its 6 states of $\approx 0.15 - 0.5$ meV due to lattice scale interactions. The experimental observations are supported by theoretical calculations, which allow to determine that inter-valley scattering and 'current-current' interaction constants are of the same magnitude in BLG.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗