Fractal energy gaps and topological invariants in hBN/graphene/hBN double moiré systems

Abstract

We calculate the electronic structure in quasiperiodic double-moiré systems of graphene sandwiched by hexagonal boron nitride, and identify the topological invariants of energy gaps. We find that the electronic spectrum contains a number of minigaps, and they exhibit a recursive fractal structure similar to the Hofstadter butterfly when plotted against the twist angle. Each of the energy gaps can be characterized by a set of integers, which are associated with an area in the momentum space. The corresponding area is geometrically interpreted as a quasi Brillouin zone, which is a polygon enclosed by multiple Bragg planes of the composite periods and can be uniquely specified by the plain wave projection in the weak potential limit.