A Two-dimensional Dirac fermion microscope

TL;DR

This paper proposes a realistic design for a two-dimensional Dirac fermion microscope using graphene, enabling imaging of nanoscale structures with relativistic charge carriers in a solid-state setup.

Contribution

It introduces a novel concept of a 2D Dirac fermion microscope, detailing design principles and simulation results for its core components using graphene.

Findings

Simulations demonstrate controllable, collimated in-plane electron beams.

Proposed architectures enable imaging of nanoscale objects.

Potential applications include studying edges, defects, and interfaces.

Abstract

The electron microscope has been a powerful, highly versatile workhorse in the fields of material and surface science, micro and nanotechnology, biology and geology, for nearly 80 years. The advent of two-dimensional materials opens new possibilities for realising an analogy to electron microscopy in the solid state. Here we provide a perspective view on how a two-dimensional (2D) Dirac fermion-based microscope can be realistically implemented and operated, using graphene as a vacuum chamber for ballistic electrons. We use semiclassical simulations to propose concrete architectures and design rules of 2D electron guns, deflectors, tunable lenses and various detectors. The simulations show how simple objects can be imaged with well-controlled and collimated in-plane beams consisting of relativistic charge carriers. Finally, we discuss the potential of such microscopes for investigating edges, terminations and defects, as well as interfaces, including external nanoscale structures such as adsorbed molecules, nanoparticles or quantum dots.