Low-energy quantum scattering induced by graphene ripples

TL;DR

This paper investigates how ripples in graphene cause unique low-energy quantum scattering effects, revealing differences from ordinary scattering and highlighting the role of pseudo-spin and energy dependence.

Contribution

It introduces a quantum model for graphene ripple scattering, showing low-energy validity, pseudo-spin effects, and energy-dependent cross sections, which are novel insights.

Findings

Scattering is valid at low energies, unlike ordinary scattering.

Pseudo-spin structure causes suppression of backward scattering.

Cross sections scale with the cube of incident energy.

Abstract

We report a quantum study of the carrier scattering induced by graphene ripples. Crucial differences between the scattering induced by the ripple and ordinary scattering were found. In contrast to the latter, in which the Born approximation is valid for high-energy process, the former is valid for the low-energy process with a quite broad energy range. Furthermore, in polar symmetry ripples, the scattering amplitude exhibits a pseudo-spin structure, an additional factor $\cos\theta/2$, which leads to an absence of backward scattering. We also elucidate that the scattering cross sections are proportional to the energy cubed of the incident carrier.