Optical and photogalvanic properties of graphene supperlattices formed by periodic strain

TL;DR

This paper theoretically investigates the optical and photogalvanic properties of graphene superlattices created by periodic strain, revealing frequency-dependent dichroic absorption and photocurrent generation mechanisms.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical model of graphene superlattices with periodic strain, analyzing their miniband structure and optical responses, including giant dichroism and photocurrent effects.

Findings

Electron minibands form with narrow anticrossings.

Absorption is frequency-dependent and dichroic.

Asymmetrical superlattices generate photocurrent at normal incidence.

Abstract

Graphene superlattices formed by periodic strain are considered theoretically. It is shown that electron energy spectrum consists of minibands obtained by folding of the cone at the boundaries of the superlattice Brillouin zone with very narrow anticrossing regions. Light absorption under direct interminiband transitions is shown to be frequency dependent and dichroic. Giant dichroism of absorption is demonstrated for doped graphene superlattices. Asymmetrical graphene superlattices act as quantum ratchets allowing for generation of photocurrent at absorption of normally incident light. The helicity-dependent photocurrent spectrum is calculated for doped superlattices with various asymmetries.