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Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Aspects of Moiré Quantum Matter

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

The advent of moiré quantum matter has newly unified disparate themes in modern condensed matter physics, chief among them band theory, correlations, and topology. This thesis investigates how the interplay between these foundational elements leads to novel electronic phenomena uniquely enabled by moiré superlattices. We focus on modulated Landau levels, which is one of the simplest settings with all three of band dispersion, correlations and topology, yet is rich enough to capture much of the interesting phenomena of moiré quantum matter. We characterize emergent quantum phases that are newly unlocked by the moiré regime. Specifically, we discuss directional localization, formation of Hall crystals with tunable Chern numbers, and novel fractional Chern insulator collective mode physics in the context of modulated Landau levels. We also show that a class of models comprising itinerant electrons strongly coupled to skyrmion-like magnetic textures, closely connected with moiré transition metal dichalcogenides in which the fractional quantum anomalous Hall effect was observed, can host flat Chern bands, emergent Landau levels, and zero-field non-Abelian topological order. This thesis provides a framework for the study of the essential features of moiré quantum matter and demonstrates how moiré systems provide unprecedented opportunities to explore, design, and manipulate strongly correlated topological quantum matter.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Doctoral
Department dc:contributor.department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Physics
Grantor dc:publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Year dc:date.issued
2025

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Paul, Nisarga
Advisor dc:contributor.advisor
  • Fu, Liang

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
  • Copyright retained by author(s)

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Handle dc:identifier.uri
https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/164484
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/164484

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
MIT
Base URL
dspace.mit.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
related terms
citation

Paul, Nisarga. Aspects of Moiré Quantum Matter. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2025. https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/164484