Nanoscale Control of One-Dimensional Confined States in Strongly Correlated Homojunctions

Construction of lateral junctions is essential to generate one-dimensional (1D) confined potentials that can effectively trap quasiparticles. A series of remarkable electronic phases in one dimension, such as Wigner crystallization, are expected to be realized in such junctions. Here, we demonstrate that we can precisely tune the 1D-confined potential with an in situ manipulation technique, thus providing a dynamic way to modify the correlated electronic states at the junctions. We confirm the existence of 1D-confined potential at the homojunction of two single-layer 1T-NbSe2 islands. Such potential is structurally sensitive and shows a nonmonotonic function of their interspacing. Moreover, there is a change of electronic properties from the correlated insulator to the generalized 1D Wigner crystallization while the confinement becomes strong. Our findings not only establish the capability to fabricate structures with dynamically tunable properties, but also pave the way toward more exotic correlated systems in low dimensions.

Automated summary

In this study, the authors demonstrate the precise tuning of one-dimensional confined potential at a homojunction of two single-layer 1T-NbSe2 islands using an in situ manipulation technique. The potential is found to be structurally sensitive and shows a nonmonotonic function of their interspacing. The electronic properties also change from a correlated insulator to a generalized one-dimensional Wigner crystallization with increasing confinement.