Signatures of fractional quantum anomalous Hall states in twisted MoTe2

The interplay between spontaneous symmetry breaking and topology can result in exotic quantum states of matter. A celebrated example is the quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) state, which exhibits an integer quantum Hall effect at zero magnetic field owing to intrinsic ferromagnetism(1-3). In the presence of strong electron-electron interactions, fractional QAH (FQAH) states at zero magnetic field can emerge(4-8). These states could host fractional excitations, including non-Abelian anyons-crucial building blocks for topological quantum computation9. Here we report experimental signatures of FQAH states in a twisted molybdenum ditelluride (MoTe2) bilayer. Magnetic circular dichroism measurements reveal robust ferromagnetic states at fractionally hole-filled moir & eacute; minibands. Using trion photoluminescence as a sensor10, we obtain a Landau fan diagram showing linear shifts in carrier densities corresponding to filling factor v = -2/3 and v = -3/5 ferromagnetic states with applied magnetic field. These shifts match the Streda formula dispersion of FQAH states with fractionally quantized Hall conductance of sigma(xy) = - 2e(2) /3 h and sigma(xy)= 3e(2)/5 h , respectively. Moreover, the v = -1 state exhibits a dispersion corresponding to Chern number -1, consistent with the predicted QAH state(11-14). In comparison, several non-ferromagnetic states on the electron-doping side do not disperse, that is, they are trivial correlated insulators. The observed topological states can be electrically driven into topologically trivial states. Our findings provide evidence of the long-sought FQAH states, demonstrating MoTe2 moir & eacute; superlattices as a platform for exploring fractional excitations.

Automated summary

This study reports experimental evidence of fractional quantum anomalous Hall (FQAH) states in twisted MoTe2 bilayers. By using magnetic circular dichroism measurements and trion photoluminescence as a sensor, the researchers demonstrate the presence of FQAH states by observing the corresponding dispersion curves and linear shifts. These topological states can be electrically driven into topologically trivial states and provide a platform for exploring fractional excitations.