z/-z Symmetry of spin-orbit coupling and weak localization in graphene

TL;DR

This paper investigates how z/-z symmetry influences spin-orbit coupling effects on weak localization in graphene, revealing symmetry-dependent behaviors and the impact of magnetic fields on decoherence.

Contribution

It demonstrates the symmetry-dependent effects of spin-orbit coupling on weak localization in graphene and how magnetic fields can modify decoherence times.

Findings

z/-z asymmetric SO coupling causes weak anti-localization

z/-z symmetric SO coupling leads to decoherence saturation

In-plane magnetic fields can partially restore weak localization

Abstract

We show that the influence of spin-orbit (SO) coupling on the weak localization effect for electrons in graphene depends on the lack or presence of z/-z symmetry in the system. While for z/-z asymmetric SO coupling, disordered graphene should display a weak anti-localization behavior at lowest temperature, z/-z symmetric coupling leads to an effective saturation of decoherence time which can be partially lifted by an in-plane magnetic field, thus, tending to restore the weak localization effect.