Tunable Short Periodic Superlattices in Graphene

• Applicant: Privatdozent Dr. Jonathan Eroms
• Subject Area: Experimental Condensed Matter Physics
• Term: since 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 426094608

This project aims at an experimental demonstration of predicted superlattice effects in graphene modulated by a one-dimensional periodic potential. While two-dimensional superlattices have been studied experimentally by a number of groups, demonstrating, e.g., Hofstadter physics, one-dimensional superlattices should also lead to a strong modification of the graphene band structure, which has not yet been shown in experiment. Using high-mobility graphene embedded in boron nitride and patterned gates fabricated out of thin few-layer graphene, we will apply a short-period, tunable modulation potential to the transport layer, and study the resulting anisotropic band structure by magnetic focusing experiments, and the thermal damping of Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations. In addition, we will search for Bloch oscillations, umklapp electron-electron scattering and additional Landau levels predicted to exist in graphene with a strong 1D modulation.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Japan
• Cooperation Partner: Dr. Takashi Taniguchi