Publications by authors named "Alex Kruchkov"

We investigate twisted double bilayer graphene (TDBG), a four-layer system composed of two AB-stacked graphene bilayers rotated with respect to each other by a small angle. Our ab initio band structure calculations reveal a considerable energy gap at the charge-neutrality point that we assign to the intrinsic symmetric polarization (ISP). We then introduce the ISP effect into the tight-binding parametrization and perform calculations on TDBG models that include lattice relaxation effects down to very small twist angles.

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We consider conditions for the existence of boundary modes in non-Hermitian systems with edges of arbitrary codimension. Through a universal formulation of formation criteria for boundary modes in terms of local Green's functions, we outline a generic perspective on the appearance of such modes and generate corresponding dispersion relations. In the process, we explain the skin effect in both topological and nontopological systems, exhaustively generalizing bulk-boundary correspondence to different types of non-Hermitian gap conditions, a prominent distinguishing feature of such systems.

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Twisted bilayer graphene (TBG) was recently shown to host superconductivity when tuned to special "magic angles" at which isolated and relatively flat bands appear. However, until now the origin of the magic angles and their irregular pattern have remained a mystery. Here we report on a fundamental continuum model for TBG which features not just the vanishing of the Fermi velocity, but also the perfect flattening of the entire lowest band.

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Exploiting additional degrees of freedom in solid-state materials may be the most-promising solution when approaching the quantum limit of Moore's law for the conventional electronic industry. Recently discovered topologically nontrivial spin textures, skyrmions, are outstanding among such possibilities. However, the controlled creation of skyrmions, especially by electric means, remains a pivotal challenge in technological applications.

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