Valley-dependent Lorentz force and Aharonov-Bohm phase in strained graphene p-n junction

TL;DR

This paper explores how strain in graphene p-n junctions induces valley-dependent Lorentz forces and Aharonov-Bohm interference, offering a new way to detect elastic deformations and valley effects.

Contribution

It introduces an experimentally feasible setup to observe strain-induced valley-dependent phenomena and interference effects in graphene p-n junctions using Green's function and tight binding methods.

Findings

Strain causes detectable Aharonov-Bohm phase shifts.

Valley splitting is enhanced by fictitious magnetic fields.

Proposed setup enables mapping of elastic deformations.

Abstract

Veselago lens focusing in graphene p-n junction is promising for realizations of new generation electron optics devices. However, the effect of the strain-induced Aharonov-Bohm interference in a p-n junction has not been discussed before. We provide an experimentally feasible setup based on the Veselago lens in which the presence of strain can result in both the valley-dependent Lorentz force and Aharonov-Bohm interference. In particular, by employing the Green's function and tight binding methods, we study the strain induced by dislocations and line defects in a p-n junction and show how the resulting Aharonov-Bohm phase and interference can be detected. Furthermore, for a different strain configuration, e.g. corresponding to corrugated graphene, we find strong signatures of valley splitting induced by the fictitious magnetic field. Our proposal can be useful for mapping elastic deformations and defects, and for studying valley dependent effects in graphene.