Supersymmetry in twisted bilayers of transition metal dichalcogenides reveals energy bands with both trivial and non-trivial topology and demonstrates spontaneous symmetry breaking driven by Coulomb interactions
Supersymmetry is a theoretical framework in which every fermion and boson has a corresponding partner particle, known as a superpartner. These superpartners share the same energy spectrum but differ in their spin properties. The transformations between these particles are governed by mathematical operators called supercharges. Although superpartners have not yet been observed experimentally, their discovery would have significant implications for fundamental physics.
Twisted bilayer materials, such as graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides, have attracted attention for their unusual electronic and topological properties. In this study, the authors investigate how supersymmetry manifests in these systems by analysing different energy modes associated with twisted bilayers.
They find that superpartners can exhibit both trivial and nontrivial topological energy bands. Furthermore, they demonstrate that supersymmetry can spontaneously break due to interactions between charged particles, known as Coulomb interactions.
This research provides new insights into the interplay between topology, symmetry, and interactions in low-dimensional materials, and opens up new possibilities for exploring supersymmetry in condensed matter systems.
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Desperately seeking supersymmetry (SUSY) by Stuart Raby (2004)
