Graphene: QFT in curved spacetimes close to experiments

TL;DR

This paper reviews a method linking graphene's low-energy electron physics with quantum field theory in curved spacetime, proposing an experiment to observe Hawking-Unruh effects via local density of states measurements on curved graphene surfaces.

Contribution

It introduces a step-by-step approach to connect graphene physics with quantum field theory in curved spacetime and proposes an experimental test for Hawking-Unruh effects on curved graphene.

Findings

The effect should be observable on various surfaces of constant negative curvature.

A specific experimental setup using molecular graphene is discussed.

Basic issues for future experiments are addressed.

Abstract

A recently proposed step-by-step procedure, to merge the low-energy physics of the $\pi$-bonds electrons of graphene, and quantum field theory on curved spacetimes, is recalled. The last step there is the proposal of an experiment to test a Hawking-Unruh effect, emerging from the model, that manifests itself as an exact (within the model) prediction for the electronic local density of states, in the ideal case of the graphene membrane shaped as a Beltrami pseudosphere. A discussion about one particular attempt to experimentally test the model on molecular graphene is presented, and it is taken as an excuse to solve some basic issues that will help future experiments. In particular, it is stated that the effect should be visible on generic surfaces of constant negative Gaussian curvature, that are infinite in number.