Scribd
Upload
313 views2 pages

Graphene Band Structure Analysis

This document is an exercise sheet about graphene band structure. It contains 4 problems: [1] Determine the basis vectors of the reciprocal lattice and construct the first Brillouin zone for graphene. [2] Draw the energy dispersions along high symmetry lines using a free electron model. [3] Calculate the splitting of degenerate states at the M-point due to a small potential modulation. [4] Explain why there is a two-fold degeneracy at the lowest K-point energy. The exercise sheet provides background information on the graphene lattice and band structure to help solve these problems.

Uploaded by

Apu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
313 views2 pages

Graphene Band Structure Analysis

This document is an exercise sheet about graphene band structure. It contains 4 problems: [1] Determine the basis vectors of the reciprocal lattice and construct the first Brillouin zone for graphene. [2] Draw the energy dispersions along high symmetry lines using a free electron model. [3] Calculate the splitting of degenerate states at the M-point due to a small potential modulation. [4] Explain why there is a two-fold degeneracy at the lowest K-point energy. The exercise sheet provides background information on the graphene lattice and band structure to help solve these problems.

Uploaded by

Apu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Thomas Ihn

Semiconductor Nanostructures
Fall 2017

Exercise sheet 2 handed out: 27.09.2016


Topics: graphene band structure, free electron model discussed: 04.10.2016

Problem 1: Graphene Band Structure

20
y zig-zag edge

10
armchair edge

A
energy (eV)

a2
t1 a π∗
t2 1
B t3 0

-10
K Γ M K
x wave vector
(a) graphene lattice (b) graphene bandstruc- (c) first Brillouin zone
ture

In this problem we try to approximate the π-band dispersion relation of graphene


(Fig. 1b). We describe the hexagonal two-dimensional crystal lattice (Fig. 1a) as a
Bravais lattice with the two basis vectors
√ √ −1/2
   
1/2
~a1 = 3a0 √ and ~a2 = 3a0 √ ,
3/2 3/2

where a0 ≈ 0.142 nm is the distance between nearest neighbor atoms. The primitive
cell spanned by these two vectors contains the basis of the lattice consisting of the two
atoms A and B.

1. Determine the basis vectors of the reciprocal lattice and construct the first Brillouin
zone (BZ). Show that the first Brillouin zone has the form depicted in Fig. 1c.

2. Consider the model of free electrons with the dispersion at the reciprocal lattice
position ~k given by
h̄2 (~k − G
~ 0 )2
En (~k) = ,
2m
where G ~ 0 is any reciprocal lattice vector (e.g. A, B, ... G) . Draw the energy
dispersions along Γ → K and along Γ → M by considering contributions from the
two sets of shortest reciprocal lattice vectors. Compare your drawing to Fig. 1b.

3. Consider the lowest doubly degenerate states at the M -point on the boundary of
the first BZ. Calculate the splitting of these degenerate states under the influence
of a small potential modulation.

4. Find reasons why the periodic potential modulation leaves a two-fold degeneracy
at the lowest K-point energy. Hint: think about the magnitude of the matrix
elements, and about the role of the structure factor in graphene.

You might also like