Artificial graphene in nanopatterned GaAs Quantum Wells

ORAL

Abstract

Electrons in graphene have linear energy-momentum dispersion, making them massless Dirac fermions. An alternative way to achieve massless Dirac-fermions in a controlled and tunable manner is to construct a honeycomb lattice potential for a 2D electron gas in a semiconductor quantum well. We report realization of very short period (as small as 40 nm) honeycomb lattice pattern using e-beam lithography and drying etching on a GaAs quantum well and spectroscopy data of electron states under this potential modulation. The study is carried out using photoluminescence and light scattering at low temperature (about 4K). Inter mini-band transitions are observed by resonant inelastic light scattering and interpreted with calculated mini-band structure. Control over parameters such as Fermi level should permit manipulation of massless fermions. This will provide a platform for novel behavior such as topological states in a semiconductor quantum simulator.

*Supported by DOE-BES Award DE-SC0010695

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Authors

  • Sheng Wang

    • Department of Applied Physics, Columbia University

  • Diego Scarabelli

    • Department of Applied Physics, Columbia University

  • Antonio Levy

    • Department of Physics, Columbia University

  • Loren Pfeiffer

    • Department of Electrical Engineering, Princeton University

  • Ken West

    • Department of Electrical Engineering, Princeton University

  • Vittorio Pellegrini

    • Italian Institute of Technology, Genoa, Italy

  • Michael J. Manfra

    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, and School of Materials Engineering, and School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University

  • Shalom Wind

    • Department of Applied Physics, Columbia University

  • Aron Pinczuk

    • Department of Physics and Department of Applied Physics, Columbia University