A Stable Pfaffian State in Bilayer Graphene

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that the Pfaffian state, relevant for fractional quantum Hall effects, can be realized and stabilized in bilayer graphene at specific Landau levels and magnetic fields, showing a transition from incompressible to compressible states.

Contribution

It reveals the conditions under which the Pfaffian state can be stabilized in bilayer graphene, highlighting the influence of magnetic field strength on its properties and stability.

Findings

Pfaffian state can be realized in bilayer graphene at certain Landau levels

Stability of the Pfaffian state depends on magnetic field strength

At ~10 Tesla, the Pfaffian state in bilayer graphene is more stable than in conventional systems

Abstract

Here we show that the Pfaffian state proposed for the $\frac52$ fractional quantum Hall states in conventional two-dimensional electron systems can be readily realized in a bilayer graphene at one of the Landau levels. The properties and stability of the Pfaffian state at this special Landau level strongly depend on the magnetic field strength. The graphene system shows a transition from the incompressible to a compressible state with increasing magnetic field. At a finite magnetic field of ~10 Tesla, the Pfaffian state in bilayer graphene becomes more stable than its counterpart in conventional electron systems.