arXiv subjects

D. S. L. Abergel

Publications and source records attributed to D. S. L. Abergel.

35 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2012

Density fluctuation effects on the exciton condensate in double layer graphene

We describe the robustness of an excitonic condensate in double layer graphene against layer density fluctuations and the associated charge inhomogeneity, and discuss the implications for observing the condensate under current experimental conditions. We solve the mean-field equations for a finite imbalance in the Fermi energies in each layer and utilize the results in two phenomenological models for inhomogeneity. We find that the stability of the excitonic condensate against density fluctuations is strongly dependent on the size of the excitonic gap, and that transport experiments (such as Coulomb drag) which rely on percolation of the exciton current through the inhomogeneous sample are promising methods for observing the condensate.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2012

Optical manifestations of symmetry breaking in bilayer graphene

We propose a spectroscopic method of identifying broken symmetry states of bilayer graphene. We demonstrate theoretically that, in contrast to gapped states, a strained bilayer crystal or nematic phase of the electronic liquid are distinguishable by the dependence of the lineshape of absorption on the polarization of the light. This property is characteristic for both the infrared and far-infrared spectral ranges, which correspond to the absorption by transitions between low-energy bands and split bands, and transitions between the low-energy valence and conduction bands, respectively.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2012

Comparison of microscopic models for disorder in bilayer graphene: Implications for the density of states and the optical conductivity

We study the effects of disorder on bilayer graphene using four different microscopic models and directly compare their results. We compute the self-energy, density of states, and optical conductivity in the presence of short-ranged scatterers and screened Coulomb impurities, using both the Born approximation and self-consistent Born approximation for the self-energy. We also include a finite interlayer potential asymmetry which generates a gap between the valence and conduction bands. We find that the qualitative behavior of the two scattering potentials are similar, but that the choice of approximation for the self-energy leads to important differences near the band edge in the gapped case. Finally, we describe how these differences manifest in the measurement of the band gap in optical and transport experimental techniques.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2011

dmu/dn In suspended bilayer graphene: the interplay of disorder and band gap

We present an interpretation of recent experimental measurements of dmu/dn in suspended bilayer graphene samples. We demonstrate that the data may be quantitatively described by assuming a spatially varying band gap induced by local electric fields. We demonstrate that the gap fluctuations vary amongst different samples and that the gap fluctuations are correlated with the associated charge density fluctuations, indicating that the mechanism causing this effect is likely to be an extrinsic effect. We also provide predictions for the optical conductivity and mobility of suspended bilayer graphene samples with small band gaps.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2011

Optical and transport gaps in gated bilayer graphene

We discuss the effect of disorder on the band gap measured in bilayer graphene in optical and transport experiments. By calculating the optical conductivity and density of states using a microscopic model in the presence of disorder, we demonstrate that the gap associated with transport experiments is smaller than that associated with optical experiments. Intrinsic bilayer graphene has an optical conductivity in which the energy of the peaks associated with the interband transition are very robust against disorder and thus provide an estimate of the band gap. In contrast, extraction of the band gap from the optical conductivity of extrinsic bilayer graphene is almost impossible for significant levels of disorder due to the ambiguity of the transition peaks. The density of states contains an upper bound on the gap measured in transport experiments, and disorder has the effect of reducing this gap which explains why these experiments have so far been unable to replicate the large band gaps seen in optical measurements.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2011

Compressibility of graphene

We develop a theory for the compressibility and quantum capacitance of disordered monolayer and bilayer graphene including the full hyperbolic band structure and band gap in the latter case. We include the effects of disorder in our theory, which are of particular importance at the carrier densities near the Dirac point. We account for this disorder statistically using two different averaging procedures: first via averaging over the density of carriers directly, and then via averaging in the density of states to produce an effective density of carriers. We also compare the results of these two models with experimental data, and to do this we introduce a model for inter-layer screening which predicts the size of the band gap between the low-energy conduction and valence bands for arbitary gate potentials applied to both layers of bilayer graphene. We find that both models for disorder give qualitatively correct results for gapless systems, but when there is a band gap at charge neutrality, the density of states averaging is incorrect and disagrees with the experimental data.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2010

Irradiated bilayer graphene

We describe the gated bilayer graphene system when it is subjected to intense terahertz frequency electromagnetic radiation. We examine the electron band structure and density of states via exact diagonalization methods within Floquet theory. We find that dynamical states are induced which lead to modification of the band structure. We first examine the situation where there is no external magnetic field. In the unbiased case, dynamical gaps appear in the spectrum which manifest as dips in the density of states. For finite interlayer bias (where a static gap is present in the band structure of unirradiated bilayer graphene), dynamical states may be induced in the static gap. These states can show a high degree of valley polarization. When the system is placed in a strong magnetic field, the radiation induces coupling between the Landau levels which allows dynamical levels to exist. For strong fields, this means the Landau levels are smeared to form a near-continuum of states.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2010

Electron Correlations in Bilayer Graphene

The nature of electron correlations in bilayer graphene has been investigated. An analytic expression for the radial distribution function is derived for an ideal electron gas and the corresponding static structure factor is evaluated. We also estimate the interaction energy of this system. In particular, the functional form of the pair-correlation function was found to be almost insensitive to the electron density in the experimentally accessible range. The inter-layer bias potential also has a negligible effect on the pair-correlation function. Our results offer valuable insights into the general behavior of the correlated systems and serve as an essential starting-point for investigation of the fully-interacting system.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2010

Properties of Graphene: A Theoretical Perspective

In this review, we provide an in-depth description of the physics of monolayer and bilayer graphene from a theorist's perspective. We discuss the physical properties of graphene in an external magnetic field, reflecting the chiral nature of the quasiparticles near the Dirac point with a Landau level at zero energy. We address the unique integer quantum Hall effects, the role of electron correlations, and the recent observation of the fractional quantum Hall effect in the monolayer graphene. The quantum Hall effect in bilayer graphene is fundamentally different from that of a monolayer, reflecting the unique band structure of this system. The theory of transport in the absence of an external magnetic field is discussed in detail, along with the role of disorder studied in various theoretical models. We highlight the differences and similarities between monolayer and bilayer graphene, and focus on thermodynamic properties such as the compressibility, the plasmon spectra, the weak localization correction, quantum Hall effect, and optical properties. Confinement of electrons in graphene is nontrivial due to Klein tunneling. We review various theoretical and experimental studies of quantum confined structures made from graphene. The band structure of graphene nanoribbons and the role of the sublattice symmetry, edge geometry and the size of the nanoribbon on the electronic and magnetic properties are very active areas of research, and a detailed review of these topics is presented. Also, the effects of substrate interactions, adsorbed atoms, lattice defects and doping on the band structure of finite-sized graphene systems are discussed. We also include a brief description of graphane -- gapped material obtained from graphene by attaching hydrogen atoms to each carbon atom in the lattice.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2009

Generation of valley polarized current in bilayer graphene

We propose a device for the generation of valley polarized electronic current in bilayer graphene. By analyzing the response of this material to intense terahertz frequency light in the presence of a transverse electric field, we demonstrate that dynamical states are induced in the gapped energy region, and if the system parameters are properly tuned, these states exist only in one valley. The valley polarized states can then be used to filter an arbitrary electron current, so generating a valley polarized current.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2009

Electronic compressibility of graphene: The case of vanishing electron correlations and the role of chirality

A recent surprising finding that electronic compressibility measured experimentally in monolayer graphene can be described solely in terms of the kinetic energy [J. Martin, et al., Nat. Phys. 4, 144 (2008)] is explained theoretically as a direct consequence of the linear energy dispersion and the chirality of massless Dirac electrons. For bilayer graphene we show that contributions to the compressibility from the electron correlations are restored. We attribute the difference to the respective momentum dependence of the low energy band structures of the two materials.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2008

Long range Coulomb interaction in bilayer graphene

We report on our studies of interacting electrons in bilayer graphene in a magnetic field. We demonstrate that the long range Coulomb interactions between electrons in this material are highly important and account for the band asymmetry in recent optical magneto-absorption experiments. We show that in the unbiased bilayer (where both layers are at the same electrostatic potential), the interactions can cause mixing of Landau levels in moderate magnetic fields. For the biased bilayer (when the two layers are at different potentials), we demonstrate that the interactions are responsible for a change in the total spin of the ground state for half-filled Landau levels in the valence band.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2008

Long range Coulomb interaction in the ground state of bilayer graphene

We report on our studies of interacting electrons in bilayer graphene in a magnetic field. We demonstrate that the long range Coulomb interactions between electrons in this material are highly important. We show that in the unbiased bilayer (where both layers are at the same electrostatic potential), the interactions can cause mixing of Landau levels in moderate magnetic fields. For the biased bilayer (when the two layers are at different potentials), we demonstrate that the interactions are responsible for a change in the total spin of the ground state for half-filled Landau levels in the valence band.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2008

Signature of valley polarization in fractional flux periodicity of a graphene ring

We have studied the interplay of valley polarization and the Coulomb interaction on the energy spectrum, persistent current, and optical absorption of a graphene quantum ring. We show that the interaction has a dramatic effect on the nature of the ground state as a function of the magnetic flux, and that the absence of the exchange interaction in opposite valleys means that the singlet-triplet degeneracy is not lifted for certain states. The additional level crossings (fractional flux periodicity) due to the interaction directly leads to extra steps in the persistent current and intricate structures in the absorption spectrum that should be experimentally observable. By varying the width of the ring, the nature of the ground state at zero field can be varied as well and this is manifest in the measurable properties we discuss.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2008

Visibility of graphene flakes on a dielectric substrate

We model the optical visibility of monolayer and bilayer graphene deposited on a silicon/silicon oxide substrate or thermally annealed on the surface of silicon carbide. We consider reflection and transmission setups, and find that visibility is strongest in reflection reaching the optimum conditions when the bare substrate transmits light resonantly. In the optical range of frequencies a bilayer is approximately twice as visible as a monolayer thereby making the two types of graphene distinguishable from each other.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2007

Spin-orbit-assisted electron-phonon interaction and the magnetophonon resonance in semiconductor quantum wells

We introduce a spin-orbit assisted electron-phonon (e-ph) coupling mechanism for carriers in semiconductor quantum wells and predict qualitatively the form and shape of anticrossings between the cyclotron resonance (CR) and optical (LO and TO) phonons. Since this e-ph interaction involves the electron spin it makes the predicted TO-CR anticrossing dependent on the filling factor and therefore on the polarization of the 2D electron gas in the quantum well.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2007

Optical and magneto-optical far-infrared properties of bilayer graphene

We analyze the spectroscopic features of bilayer graphene determined by the formation of pairs of low-energy and split bands in this material. We show that the inter-Landau-level absorption spectrum in bilayer graphene at high magnetic field is much denser in the far-infrared range than that in monolayer material, and that the polarization dependence of its lowest energy peak can be used to test the form of the bilayer ground state in the quantum Hall-effect regime.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗