Graphene nanodevices: bridging nanoelectronics and subwavelength optics

TL;DR

This paper explores the analogies between graphene nanodevices and subwavelength optics, demonstrating how optical phenomena can describe electronic transport in ultra-small graphene structures and proposing novel quantum dot applications.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of electronic diffraction barriers and links graphene transport physics with optical diffraction phenomena, enabling new device designs.

Findings

Graphene devices smaller than the Dirac wavelength exhibit optical diffraction patterns.

Electronic transport in graphene nanostructures can be described using optical analogies like diffraction and Fabry-Perot oscillations.

Proposes functionalized subwavelength quantum dots as molecular spin valves.

Abstract

The unconventional properties of graphene, with a massless Dirac band dispersion and large coherence properties, have raised a large interest for applications in nanoelectronics. In this work, we emphasize that graphene two dimensional character combined with current standard lithography processes allow to achieve devices smaller than the Dirac electrons wavelength. In this regime, we demonstrate that the electronic properties present deep analogies with subwavelength optics phenomena. We describe the rich transport physics in graphene-based nanodevices through optical analogies: From the Bethe and Kirchhoff-like diffraction patterns in the conductance of graphene slits to the Fabry-Perot oscillations of the conductance in nanoribbons. We introduce the concept of {\it electronic diffraction barriers}, which transmission cancels at the Dirac point. This gives central insight in the properties of Graphene subwavelength devices including nanoelectronics standard systems, such as quantum dots. As an application we propose a new type of quantum dots, namely functionalized subwavelength quantum dots, which could be used as molecular spin valves.