Simulating high-temperature superconductivity in a triangular moiré lattice

The Hubbard model, a simple theoretical model of strongly correlated electrons, is believed to capture the essential physics of high-temperature (Tc) superconductors. Semiconductor moiré materials have emerged as highly tunable quantum simulators of the Hubbard model, raising the question of whether they can be used to study the problem of high-Tc superconductivity. In this talk, I will present our recent demonstration of a high-Tc-like phase diagram in twisted bilayer WSe₂. By changing the twist angle, we tune the system to the relevant intermediate-coupling regime. Combining electrical transport and optical susceptibility measurements, we uncover a range of high-Tc phenomenology, including an antiferromagnetic (AF) insulator at ν = 1, superconducting domes upon electron and hole doping, and strange metallicity at elevated temperatures. Furthermore, through angle-dependence studies, we find that Tc always peaks at the electric-field-driven Mott transition. These findings suggest a central role of the Mott transition in the pairing mechanism and offer new insights into the longstanding problem of high-temperature superconductivity.