Theory Meets Experiment in Low-Dimensional Structures with Correlated Electrons

The conspiracy of electronic interactions, band structure, and lattice degrees of freedom forms a vital basis for exotic states of quantum matter. Here, we address the interplay of superlattice and interaction phenomena and discuss how electronic correlations and coupling between neighboring layers can be exploited to control quantum many-body states of layered van der Waals systems. First, we consider generic two-dimensional Mott-Hubbard systems and analyze possibilities of “Coulomb engineering”, i.e. controlling the electronic states realized in these systems via external screening. We then discuss the particular example of magic-angle twisted bilayer graphene (MA-tBLG), which has appeared as a rich ground for the realization of intricate superconducting, insulating and metallic many-electron states in a two-dimensional Dirac material framework. We analyze the interplay of internal screening and dielectric environment on the intrinsic electronic interaction profile of MA-tBLG and show that experimental tailoring of the dielectric environment presents a promising pursuit to provide further evidence for resolving the hidden nature of the quantum many-body states in MA-tBLG. Finally, we turn to emergent Mott-Hubbard states in charge density wave superlattices of group V TMDCs and discuss opportunities of realizing novel electronic quantum states, there.