Pseudospin Magnetism in Graphene

POSTER

Abstract

We predict that neutral graphene bilayers are pseudospin magnets in which the charge density-contribution from each valley and spin spontaneously shifts to one of the two layers. The band structure of this system is characterized by a momentum-space vortex which is responsible for unusual competition between band and kinetic energies leading to symmetry breaking in the vortex core. We discuss the possibility of realizing a pseudospin version of ferromagnetic metal spintronics in graphene bilayers based on hysteresis associated with this broken symmetry.

*Work at UT Austin was supported by the Welch Foundation, NRI-SWAN, ARO, and DOE.

Authors

  • Hongki Min

    • University of Texas at Austin
    • Department of Physics, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712
    • The University of Texas at Austin

  • Giovanni Borghi

    • NEST-CNR-INFM and Scuola Normale Superiore, I-56126 Pisa, Italy
    • NEST-CNR-INFM and Scuola Normale Superiore, Italy

  • Marco Polini

    • NEST-CNR-INFM and Scuola Normale Superiore, I-56126 Pisa, Italy
    • NEST-CNR-INFM and Scuola Normale Superiore, Italy

  • Allan MacDonald

    • University of Texas at Austin
    • University of Texas
    • Dept. of Physics, Univ. of Texas at Austin
    • Department of Physics, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712
    • Department of Physics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin Texas 78712
    • The University of Texas at Austin
    • Department of Physics, University of Texas at Austin