Arts & Sciences Events
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Arts & Sciences
[PAST EVENT] Physics Colloquium "CANCELLED"
February 20, 2015
4pm - 5pm
Abstract:
Recently a new single-layer material graphene has been discovered. This is a material where quasi-particle behavior is described by very same Dirac equation that governs behavior of relativistic particles. Dirac fermionic spectrum leads to very unusual properties of these materials, including Klein paradox, chirality of carriers, unusual electron transport and impurity states. These properties are not unique to graphene, instead they represent universal consequences of the Dirac spectrum of the fermionic excitation sector. I will explore these similarities with other materials exhibiting similar spectra including d-wave superconductors, superfluid He and recently discovered topological insulators and discuss the unique role of symmetries that protect the Dirac spectrum. I will also discuss how we can use modern tools to design Dirac Materials and perform their quantum imaging. I will illustrate how the ripples in the Dirac sea produced by defects can induce fascinating features that can be probed locally.
Recently a new single-layer material graphene has been discovered. This is a material where quasi-particle behavior is described by very same Dirac equation that governs behavior of relativistic particles. Dirac fermionic spectrum leads to very unusual properties of these materials, including Klein paradox, chirality of carriers, unusual electron transport and impurity states. These properties are not unique to graphene, instead they represent universal consequences of the Dirac spectrum of the fermionic excitation sector. I will explore these similarities with other materials exhibiting similar spectra including d-wave superconductors, superfluid He and recently discovered topological insulators and discuss the unique role of symmetries that protect the Dirac spectrum. I will also discuss how we can use modern tools to design Dirac Materials and perform their quantum imaging. I will illustrate how the ripples in the Dirac sea produced by defects can induce fascinating features that can be probed locally.