Observation of a commensurate super modulation consistent with an intertwined charge density wave and antiferromagnetic phase in monolayer 1T-NbSe2

Monolayer 1T-phase NbSe 2 , a strongly correlated insulator hosting a frustrated spin lattice, has emerged as a promising platform for realizing exotic quantum phases arising from competing orders. Its insulating behavior originates from a charge-density-wave (CDW) state with Star-of-David (SD) clusters, each hosting a localized magnetic moment that forms a triangular spin network. Using scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (STM/STS), we report the observation of a long-wavelength supermodulation that is commensurate with the SD CDW. To explain this data, we construct a Landau free energy model, which reveals a symmetry-allowed coupling between the spin and charge degrees of freedom. Combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we propose a plausible explanation for the modulation in terms of a phase in which the CDW order is entangled with a noncollinear antiferromagnetic (AFM) state. These findings provide new insights into the complex interplay of electronic correlation, magnetism, and lattice order in two-dimensional quantum materials.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
npj Quantum Materials
Published
2026-07-17
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41535-026-00924-1
Primary Topic
2D Materials and Applications
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

Funders

Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Observation of a commensurate super modulation consistent with an intertwined charge density wave and antiferromagnetic phase in monolayer 1T-NbSe2

Vidya Madhavan, Gurjyot Sethi, Michael Altvater, Joy Y. Hsu et al.
npj Quantum Materials
2D Materials and Applications
article

Observation of a commensurate super modulation consistent with an intertwined charge density wave and antiferromagnetic phase in monolayer 1T-NbSe2

Vidya Madhavan, Gurjyot Sethi, Michael Altvater, Joy Y. Hsu, Steven G. Louie, Guannan Chen, Rachel Birchmier
article en

Abstract

Monolayer 1T-phase NbSe 2 , a strongly correlated insulator hosting a frustrated spin lattice, has emerged as a promising platform for realizing exotic quantum phases arising from competing orders. Its insulating behavior originates from a charge-density-wave (CDW) state with Star-of-David (SD) clusters, each hosting a localized magnetic moment that forms a triangular spin network. Using scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (STM/STS), we report the observation of a long-wavelength supermodulation that is commensurate with the SD CDW. To explain this data, we construct a Landau free energy model, which reveals a symmetry-allowed coupling between the spin and charge degrees of freedom. Combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we propose a plausible explanation for the modulation in terms of a phase in which the CDW order is entangled with a noncollinear antiferromagnetic (AFM) state. These findings provide new insights into the complex interplay of electronic correlation, magnetism, and lattice order in two-dimensional quantum materials.

npj Quantum Materials
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (US), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US), University of California, Berkeley (US)
National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State University, National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Office of Science, Division of Materials Research, Basic Energy Sciences, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Affordable and clean energy
Openalex Percentile: Top 18%
2D Materials and Applications
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.