Magnetic phases from competing Hubbard and extended Coulomb interactions in twisted bilayer graphene

We implement a self-consistent Hartree-Fock approximation based on a microscopic model in real space, which allows us to consider the interplay between the Hubbard and the extended Coulomb interaction in twisted bilayer graphene at the magic angle. These two interactions tend to favor different symmetry-breaking patterns, therefore having complementary roles in the regimes where one or the other dominates. We show that, for sufficiently large values of the on-site Hubbard repulsion, magic angle graphene has an antiferromagnetic ground state at the charge neutrality point, while at half filling of the lowest valence band the state becomes fully spin-polarized. In general, a suitable screening of the extended Coulomb interaction is required to observe the magnetic state in either case, as otherwise the instabilities take place in the charge sector, preferentially in the form of time-reversal, chiral, or valley symmetry breaking.

Automated summary

This study investigates the interplay between Hubbard and extended Coulomb interactions in twisted bilayer graphene at the magic angle. For sufficiently large values of the on-site Hubbard repulsion, graphene exhibits an antiferromagnetic ground state and fully spin-polarized state. Proper screening of the extended Coulomb interaction is essential to observe the magnetic state.