Electrostatic control of correlated phases in spatially inhomogeneous two-dimensional moiré structures
Two-dimensional moiré structures are a promising platform for quantum simulations. In 2D van der Waals twisted bilayers, a moiré superlattice acts as a periodic potential for capturing interlayer excitons, which opens new possibilities for constructing quantum correlated phases. In addition, precise control of electronic states in such structures is possible via electrostatic doping and application of out-of-plane electric fields. However, effects related to spatial inhomogeneity, which is often present in experimental samples of van der Waals heterostructures, are currently not well studied. Here we experimentally investigate correlated phases in a spatially inhomogeneous twisted WSe2/WS2 bilayer with electrostatically controlled free charge carrier density. Using photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, we locally detect multiple correlated phases and demonstrate continuous tuning of their energies via electric bias. Our results contribute towards the development of quantum simulators based on correlated phases in twisted van der Waals heterostructures.