Resonant low-energy electron scattering on short-range impurities in graphene

TL;DR

This paper theoretically analyzes how low-energy electrons in graphene are resonantly scattered by short-range impurities, revealing significant energy-dependent increases in scattering cross-section due to resonances.

Contribution

It provides a theoretical analysis of resonant scattering in graphene, highlighting the conditions under which generic impurities cause strong, energy-dependent scattering effects.

Findings

Resonant scattering significantly enhances the scattering cross-section.

Resonances are common for sufficiently strong impurities.

Energy dependence of scattering is pronounced near resonances.

Abstract

Resonant scattering of electrons with low energies (as compared to the bandwidth) on a single neutral short-range impurity in graphene is analyzed theoretically, taking into account the valley degeneracy. Resonances dramatically increase the scattering cross-section and introduce a strong energy dependence. Analysis of the tight-binding model shows that resonant scattering is typical for generic impurities as long as they are sufficiently strong (the potential is of the order of the electron bandwidth or higher).