# Electron heating and mechanical properties of graphene

## TL;DR

This paper investigates how laser-induced electron heating in graphene affects its lattice structure, revealing a novel light-induced optomechanical coupling that causes structural deformations like buckling and deflections.

## Contribution

It introduces the concept of light-induced structural changes in graphene due to electron heating, expanding the understanding of optomechanical effects in 2D materials.

## Key findings

- High electron temperatures modify the $\sigma$ band occupancy.
- Strain and buckling are induced by electron heating.
- Light can cause deflections of about 50 nm in micron-sized samples.

## Abstract

The heating of electrons in graphene by laser irradiation, and its effects on the lattice structure, are studied. Values for the temperature of the electron system in realistic situations are obtained. For sufficiently high electron temperatures, the occupancy of the states in the $\sigma$ band of graphene is modified. The strength of the carbon-carbon bonds changes, leading to the emergence of strains, and to buckling in suspended samples. While most applications of `strain engineering' in two dimensional materials focus on the effects of strains on electronic properties, the effect studied here leads to alterations of the structure induced by light. This novel optomechanical coupling can induce deflections in the order of $\sim 50$ nm in micron size samples.