One-dimensional relativistic hydrogen-like atom in Dirac materials: Energy spectra and supercritical states

TL;DR

This paper models a 1D relativistic hydrogen-like atom in graphene nanoribbons, analyzing energy spectra, supercritical states, and the effects of confinement on critical charge and localization.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed 1D Dirac equation model for Coulomb impurities in graphene, including finite-size effects and confinement, to study supercritical states and critical charge.

Findings

Critical charge is higher for confined atoms than free atoms.

Supercritical energy levels are computed and analyzed.

Strong localization is observed in atom-in-box systems.

Abstract

We consider a model of 1D relativistic hydrogen-like atom, formed by a Coulomb impurity in graphene nanoribbon. Describing the electron motion in terms of the one-dimensional Dirac equation for Coulomb potential taking into account the finite-size of the atomic nucleus, we compute the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the atomic electron. The cases of unconfined atom and atomin-box system are considered. Special focus is given calculation of supercritical energy levels and the critical charge. The latter is the value of the atomic nucleus charge, when the electronic state reaches the border of the Dirac sea. It is found that for confined atom the value of the critical charge is larger than that of free atom. Experimentally measurable characteristics, local density of states is also plotted for both cases. Existence of strong localization for atom-in-box system is shown.