Gauge fields in graphene with nonuniform elastic deformations: A quantum field theory approach

TL;DR

This paper develops a quantum field theory framework to analyze how arbitrary nonuniform elastic deformations in graphene induce effective gauge fields, revealing a novel link between pseudo magnetic fields and Riemann curvature.

Contribution

It provides a closed-form expression for the effective gauge field in strained graphene and uncovers a new relation between pseudo magnetic fields and curvature.

Findings

Effective gauge field expression for arbitrary deformations

Relation between pseudo magnetic field and Riemann curvature

Insights into strain-induced gauge phenomena in graphene

Abstract

We investigate the low energy continuum limit theory for electrons in a graphene sheet under strain. We use the quantum field theory in curved spaces to analyze the effect of the system deformations into an effective gauge field. We study both in-plane and out-of-plane deformations and obtain a closed expression for the effective gauge field due to arbitrary nonuniform sheet deformations. The obtained results reveal a remarkable relation between the local-pseudo magnetic field and the Riemann curvature, so far overlooked.