Quantum Field Theory Approach to the Optical Conductivity of Strained and Deformed Graphene

TL;DR

This paper uses quantum field theory in curved spaces to analytically compute the optical conductivity of strained and deformed graphene, providing new insights into how geometric deformations affect electronic properties.

Contribution

It introduces an analytical method for calculating optical conductivity in strained graphene using quantum field theory in curved spacetime, extending beyond traditional tight-binding models.

Findings

Analytical solutions for Dirac equation in curved geometries.

Expressions for optical conductivity including intra- and interband transitions.

Comparison with tight-binding model for small deformations.

Abstract

The computation of the optical conductivity of strained and deformed graphene is discussed within the framework of quantum field theory in curved spaces. The analytical solutions of the Dirac equation in an arbitrary static background geometry for one dimensional periodic deformations are computed, together with the corresponding Dirac propagator. Analytical expressions are given for the optical conductivity of strained and deformed graphene associated with both intra and interbrand transitions. The special case of small deformations is discussed and the result compared to the prediction of the tight-binding model.