Effects of proximity-induced spin-orbit coupling in rhombohedral graphene

In recent years, a variety of quantum phases have been discovered in multilayer graphene devices spanning different combinations of layer number, twist angle, and proximity to transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs). Rhombohedral graphene is of particular interest because it hosts flat bands without requiring a moiré superlattice. A growing body of experiments indicates a rich interplay between many-body correlations and topology, yielding unconventional superconducting states, correlated insulators, and integer/fractional quantum anomalous Hall effects. These emergent states can be tuned by the number of graphene layers and by long-wavelength moiré potentials generated via alignment to hexagonal boron nitride. Additionally, TMD substrates such as WSe₂ can enhance or even create superconductivity owing to proximity-induced spin-orbit coupling (SOC), although the relationship between pairing and SOC remains unclear. Here, we discuss ongoing transport measurements of rhombohedral graphene devices with and without proximity to WSe₂, aimed at disentangling the role of proximity-induced SOC in shaping the correlated phase diagram.