The impact of proximity-induced spin-orbit and exchange coupling on the correlated phase diagram of rhombohedral trilayer graphene (RTG) is investigated theoretically. By employing ab initio-fitted effective models of RTG encapsulated by transition metal dichalcogenides (spin-orbit proximity effect) and ferromagnetic Cr2Ge2Te6 (exchange proximity effect), we incorporate the Coulomb interactions within the random-phase approximation to explore potential correlated phases at different displacement fields and doping. We find a rich spectrum of spin-valley resolved Stoner and intervalley coherence instabilities induced by the spin-orbit proximity effects, such as the emergence of a spin-valley-coherent phase due to the presence of valley-Zeeman coupling. Similarly, proximity exchange removes the phase degeneracies by biasing the spin direction, enabling a magnetocorrelation effect—strong sensitivity of the correlated phases to the relative magnetization orientations (parallel or antiparallel) of the encapsulating ferromagnetic layers.

It is steam engines that marked the dawn of industrialization, yielding both benefits and headache causing challenges. Beyond their practical applications, steam engines profoundly shaped our understanding of the physical world. Among the key figures in this transformation was Rudolph Clausius, whose groundbreaking work during the mid-19th century significantly influenced our comprehension of energy and entropy. Despite his pivotal and broad contributions, Clausius remains somewhat underappreciated in today’s scientific community. His theories, however, serve as the bedrock connecting the microscopic and macroscopic realms, enabling us to control physical and chemical processes across various fields. Clausius was not only a physicist but also an early transdisciplinary scientist, bridging disciplines from physics to chemistry, information science, and economics. In this discussion, we’ll explore Clausius’s central insights, including his concept of the “motive force of heat” (now known as thermodynamics). We’ll delve into his role within the 19th-century scientific community and draw connections to our contemporary world.