title: Triangular Spin-Orbit-Coupled Lattice with Strong Coulomb Correlations: Sn Atoms on a SiC(0001) Substrate.
abstract: Two-dimensional (2D) atom lattices provide model setups with Coulomb correlations that induce competing ground states. Here, SiC emerges as a wide-gap substrate with reduced screening. We report the first artificial high-Z atom lattice on SiC(0001) by Sn adatoms, based on experimental realization and theoretical modeling. Density-functional theory of our triangular structure model closely reproduces the scanning tunneling microscopy. Photoemission data show a deeply gapped state (∼2  eV gap), and, based on our calculations including dynamic mean-field theory, we argue that this reflects a pronounced Mott-insulating scenario. We also find indications that the system is susceptible to antiferromagnetic superstructures. Such artificial lattices on SiC(0001) thus offer a novel platform for coexisting Coulomb correlations and spin-orbit coupling, with bearing for unusual magnetic phases and proposed topological quantum states of matter.
authors.affiliation: Physikalisches Institut and Röntgen Research Center for Complex Material Systems, Universität Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Glass
authors.affiliation: Institut für Theoretische Physik und Astrophysik, Universität Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Physikalisches Institut and Röntgen Research Center for Complex Material Systems, Universität Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Adler
authors.affiliation: Physikalisches Institut and Röntgen Research Center for Complex Material Systems, Universität Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aulbach
authors.affiliation: Institut für Theoretische Physik und Astrophysik, Universität Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fleszar
authors.affiliation: Institut für Theoretische Physik und Astrophysik, Universität Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thomale
authors.affiliation: Institut für Theoretische Physik und Astrophysik, Universität Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hanke
authors.affiliation: Physikalisches Institut and Röntgen Research Center for Complex Material Systems, Universität Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Claessen
authors.affiliation: Physikalisches Institut and Röntgen Research Center for Complex Material Systems, Universität Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schäfer