Electron optics with magnetic vector potential barriers in graphene

TL;DR

This paper investigates electron transport in graphene with magnetic vector potential barriers, revealing unique refraction effects, symmetric transmission with paired barriers, and potential applications in Bragg reflectors and resonant cavities.

Contribution

It introduces a novel analysis of magnetic barrier arrangements in graphene, including asymmetric refraction, symmetric transmission with paired barriers, and the design of Bragg reflectors and cavities.

Findings

Unusual non-specular refraction at magnetic barriers

Symmetry in transmission restored with opposite barriers

Periodic barriers act as Bragg reflectors with calculable reflectivity

Abstract

An analysis of electron transport in graphene is presented in the presence of various arrangement of delta-function like magnetic barriers. The motion through one such barrier gives an unusual non specular refraction leading to asymmetric transmission. The symmetry is restored by putting two such barriers in opposite direction side by side. Periodic arrangements of such barriers can be used as Bragg reflectors whose reflectivity has been calculated using a transfer matrix formalism. Such Bragg reflectors can be used to make resonant cavities. We also analyze the associated band structure for the case of infinite periodic structures.