Electron-Electron Interactions in Artificial Graphene

TL;DR

This paper investigates how electron-electron interactions influence the electronic band structure and Dirac points in artificially created graphene-like nanostructures, advancing the theoretical understanding of these designer materials.

Contribution

It provides an analysis of electron-electron interaction effects on the band structure and Dirac points in artificial graphene, a topic lacking comprehensive theoretical treatment.

Findings

Electron-electron interactions modify the band structure.

Interactions influence the stability of Dirac points.

Theoretical framework for interactions in artificial graphene.

Abstract

Recent advances in the creation and modulation of graphene-like systems are introducing a science of "designer Dirac materials". In its original definition, artificial graphene is a man-made nanostructure that consists of identical potential wells (quantum dots) arranged in a adjustable honeycomb lattice in the two-dimensional electron gas. As our ability to control the quality of artificial graphene samples improves, so grows the need for an accurate theory of its electronic properties, including the effects of electron-electron interactions. Here we determine those effects on the band structure and on the emergence of Dirac points.