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Chiral Wigner Crystal Phases Induced by Berry Curvature
Sandeep Joy1,2,3,4, Leonid Levitov5, Brian Skinner1
1Ohio State University, Department of Physics, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA.
Physical Review Letters
|January 20, 2026
Summary
Berry phase in two-dimensional electron systems induces a novel Wigner crystal state with spontaneous orbital angular momentum in Bernal bilayer graphene. This research explores phase boundaries and spin ordering, relevant for multilayer graphene phenomena.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Quantum Mechanics
Background:
- The Wigner crystal (WC) state describes electrons forming a crystalline structure due to Coulomb repulsion in low-density 2D systems.
- Berry phase and curvature are fundamental quantum mechanical concepts influencing electron behavior in materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of Berry phase on the Wigner crystal state in Bernal bilayer graphene.
- To explore the emergence of spontaneous orbital angular momentum and its relation to displacement fields.
- To analyze the spin ordering and potential phase transitions driven by effective Hamiltonians.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical modeling of Bernal bilayer graphene under a perpendicular displacement field.
- Analysis of Berry curvature effects on the Wigner crystal state.
- Derivation of an effective Hamiltonian for electron spin ordering.
Main Results:
- Berry curvature induces a new Wigner crystal state with spontaneous orbital angular momentum above a critical displacement field.
- The phase boundary of the WC state was determined as a function of electron density and displacement field at low temperatures.
- An effective Hamiltonian revealed a chiral term driving the system towards chiral spin-density wave or spin liquid phases.
Conclusions:
- Berry phase plays a crucial role in modifying the Wigner crystal state in 2D electron systems.
- The findings are relevant for understanding valley-polarized Wigner crystal phases in multilayer graphene.
- This work provides theoretical insights into exotic electronic phases driven by quantum geometric effects.
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