Some Factors Leading to Asymmetry in Electronic Spectrum of Bilayer Graphene

TL;DR

This paper investigates how various overlap integrals and site energy differences affect the electronic spectrum asymmetry in bilayer graphene using a tight binding model.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of in-plane and inter-plane interactions and their impact on electronic dispersion and asymmetry in bilayer graphene.

Findings

$s_1$ causes additional asymmetry at the $K$ point.

In-plane interactions induce electron-hole asymmetry.

Density of states is affected by these parameters.

Abstract

We have investigated the effects of inplane and interplane nearest neighbour overlap integrals ($s_0$ and $s_1$) and site energy difference between atoms in two different sublattices in the same graphene layer ($\Delta$) on the electronic dispersion of bilayer graphene within tight binding model. Also, modifications in bilayer graphene bands due to inplane next nearest neighbour interactions ($\gamma_{1i}$, $s_{1i}$) and next to next nearest neighbour interactions ($\gamma_{2i}$, $s_{2i}$) have been studied. It is observed that $s_1$ introduces further asymmetry in energy positions of top conduction band and bottom valence band at the $K$ point on top of the asymmetry due to $\Delta$. Moreover, $s_0$, $s_1$ as well as the other inplane coupling parameters induce noticable electron-hole asymmetry in the slope of the bands and changes in band widths. The density of states of bilayer graphene has also been calculated within the same model.