Researchers demonstrate size quantization of Dirac fermions in graphene

Researchers demonstrate size quantization of Dirac fermions in graphene
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image of graphene nanoconstriction: graphene material is shown in red, 4 metal electrodes are also seen. Credit: B. Terrés, L. A. Chizhova, F. Libisch, J. Peiro, D. Jörger, S. Engels, A. Girschik, K. Watanabe, T. Taniguchi, S. V. Rotkin, J. Burgdörfer, C. Stampfer

Quantum mechanics is the field of physics governing the behavior of things on atomic scales, where things work very differently from our everyday world.

One of the most direct manifestations of is quantization. Quantization results in the discrete character of physical properties at small scales, which could be the radius of an atomic orbit or the resistance of a molecular wire. The most famous one, which won Albert Einstein the Nobel Prize, is the quantization of the photon energy in the photoelectric effect— the observation that many metals emit electrons when light shines upon them.

Quantization occurs when a quantum particle is confined to a small space. Its wave function develops a pattern, like waves in a small puddle. Physicists then speak of size quantization: the energy of the particle may only take those values where the nodal pattern of the standing wave matches the system boundary.

A striking consequence of size quantization is quantized conductance: the number of particles that can simultaneously traverse a narrow corridor, a so-called nanoconstriction, become discrete. As a result the current through such a constriction is an integer multiple of the quantum of conductance.

Researchers demonstrate size quantization of Dirac fermions in graphene
Dirac cone showing a typical dispersion relation (energy vs. momentum) for 2-D graphene material. Red cross-sectional lines represent quantization of the energy (and momentum) due to a finite size constriction. Credit: B. Terrés, L. A. Chizhova, F. Libisch, J. Peiro, D. Jörger, S. Engels, A. Girschik, K. Watanabe, T. Taniguchi, S. V. Rotkin, J. Burgdörfer, C. Stampfer

In a recent joint experimental and theoretical work, an international group of physicists demonstrated size quantization of charge carriers, i.e. quantized conductance in nanoscale samples of graphene. The results have been published in an article called "Size quantization of Dirac fermions in graphene constrictions" in Nature Communications.

The high-quality material graphene, a single-atomic layer of carbon, embedded in demonstrates unusual physics due to the hexagonal—or honey comb—symmetry of its lattice. However, observing size quantization of charge carriers in graphene nanoconstrictions has, until now, proved elusive due to the of the electron wave to disorder.

The researchers demonstrated quantization effects at very low temperatures (liquid Helium), where the influence of thermal disorder ceases. This new approach—of encapsulating graphene constrictions between layers of boron nitride—allowed for exceptionally clean samples, and thus highly accurate measurements.

Researchers demonstrate size quantization of Dirac fermions in graphene
This graph shows electrical conductance, G, of electrons (black) and holes (red) in graphene nanoconstriction (shown in SEM image), as a function of electron/hole wave vector (momentum) showing characteristic steps (quantization of conductance) as indicated by arrows. Credit: B. Terrés, L. A. Chizhova, F. Libisch, J. Peiro, D. Jörger, S. Engels, A. Girschik, K. Watanabe, T. Taniguchi, S. V. Rotkin, J. Burgdörfer, C. Stampfer

At zero magnetic field, the measured current shows clear signatures of size quantization, closely following theoretical predictions. For increasing magnetic field, these structures gradually evolve into the Landau levels of the quantum Hall effect.

"The high sensitivity of this transition to scattering at the constriction edges reveals indispensable details about the role of edge scattering in future nanoelectronic devices," said Slava V. Rotkin, professor of physics and materials science & engineering at Lehigh University and a co-author of the study.

Graphene: A quantum of current
Electron wave passing through a narrow constriction. Credit: TU Wien

More information: Nature Communications, DOI: 10.1038/NCOMMS11528

Journal information: Nature Communications

Provided by Lehigh University

Citation: Researchers demonstrate size quantization of Dirac fermions in graphene (2016, May 20) retrieved 29 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2016-05-size-quantization-dirac-fermions-graphene.html
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