Unveiling the Miniband Structure of Graphene Moiré Superlattices via THz Photocurrent Spectroscopy

We present gate-dependent terahertz photocurrent spectroscopy as a robust technique to detect, explore, and quantify intricate electronic properties in graphene moiré superlattices. Specifically, using terahertz light at different frequencies, we demonstrate distinct photocurrent regimes, evidencing the presence of avoided band crossings and tiny (∼1 to 20 meV) inversion-breaking global and local energy gaps in the miniband structure of minimally twisted graphene and hexagonal boron nitride heterostructures, key information that is inaccessible by conventional electrical or optical techniques. In the off-resonance regime, when the radiation energy is smaller than the gap values, enhanced zero-bias responsivities arise in the system due to the lower Fermi velocities and specific valley degeneracies of the charge carriers subjected to moiré superlattice potentials. In stark contrast, the above-gap excitations give rise to bulk photocurrents─intriguing optoelectronic responses related to the geometric Berry phase of the constituting electronic minibands. Besides their fundamental importance, these results place moiré superlattices as promising material platforms for advanced, sensitive, and low-noise terahertz detection applications.

Link to the article

The study was widely difused in several media, see the following press releases (in spanish):

Revista de Castilla y León

La Gaceta de Salamanca

Comunicación USAL

Video News Release

1st International Summer School on Structured Light and Matter

 

The first edition of the International Summer School on Structured Light and Matter, organized by the Unit of Excellence LUMES at the University of Salamanca, took place from July 7 to 11 in Salamanca, Spain.

The Summer School offers a week of intensive, interdisciplinary training in three key areas of current research: structured lightstructured matter, and light-matter interaction. The school features 11 courses spread over 36 teaching hours, carefully structured to offer participants an advanced and practical introduction to these topics. The program combines theoretical sessions, practical modules, keynote lectures given by international experts, 21 researchers from Universidad de Salamanca and a special visit to the Center for Pulsed Lasers (CLPU).

Further details are provided here

Kick off meeting – Center of Excellence

On February 12th 2025, the University of Salamanca and the Regional Government “Junta de Castilla y León” launched the Center of Excellence in Structured Light and Structured Matter – LUMES (Unidad de Excelencia en Luz y Materia Estructuradas- LUMES).   José Caridad, PI of the ERC project CHIROTRONICS and deputy director of LUMES attended the meeting.

The event was widely difused in several media, see the following press releases (in spanish):

https://saladeprensa.usal.es/node/138563

Tribuna de Salamanca

La Gaceta de Salamanca