Ratchet effect in graphene with trigonal clusters

TL;DR

This paper theoretically investigates how triangular defects in graphene induce a ratchet effect, generating a direct current from an oscillating electric field through skew scattering mechanisms.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical model showing that coherently oriented triangular defects in graphene cause a ratchet effect via skew scattering, covering classical and quantum regimes.

Findings

Skew scattering by triangular defects induces a ratchet effect in graphene.

The DC current is calculated for classical oscillating field frequencies.

Different types of threefold symmetric defects are considered in the analysis.

Abstract

In this study, we explore the ratchet effect in graphene with artificial, triangular scatterers from a theoretical standpoint. It is demonstrated that the skew scattering of carriers by such coherently oriented defects results in the ratchet effect in graphene, i.e., in a direct current under the action of an oscillating electric field. Scattering on various types of defects exhibiting threefold symmetry is considered in this paper: scattering on a cluster in the shape of a solid triangle in the classical and quantum mechanical limits, and scattering on three- point defects placed at the corners of a triangle. The DC current is calculated for a classical range of oscillating field frequencies.