Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 1, 2026
11:42
Fabrication of Gate-tunable Graphene Devices for Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Studies with Coulomb Impurities
Published on: July 24, 2015
14.7K
Theory of the three-dimensional quantum Hall effect in graphite
B Andrei Bernevig1, Taylor L Hughes, Srinivas Raghu
1Princeton Center for Theoretical Physics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
Physical Review Letters
|October 13, 2007
Summary
We predict a 3D quantum Hall effect plateau in graphite, showing quantized Hall conductivity. This occurs when a magnetic field induces chiral surface states, with critical fields estimated for electrons and holes.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
Background:
- The quantum Hall effect (QHE) is typically observed in two-dimensional electron systems.
- Graphite's unique electronic structure offers potential for novel QHE phenomena.
Purpose of the Study:
- To predict and analyze the conditions for a three-dimensional quantum Hall effect (3D QHE) plateau in graphite.
- To investigate the role of magnetic fields and Landau gaps in inducing this effect.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the three-dimensional Hofstadter problem using a realistic tight-binding Hamiltonian for graphite.
- Identification of spectral gaps and estimation of critical magnetic fields.
Main Results:
- Prediction of a 3D QHE plateau in graphite with Hall conductivity quantized at 4e²/h.
- Identification of bulk Landau gaps crucial for the effect.
- Estimation of critical magnetic fields: 15.4 T for electrons and 7.0 T for holes.
Conclusions:
- The study predicts the feasibility of observing a 3D QHE plateau in graphite under specific magnetic field conditions.
- Chiral surface states are identified as the mechanism for Hall transport when the Fermi level is within the bulk Landau gap.
Related Concept Videos
02:32The de Broglie Wavelength
25.7K
In the macroscopic world, objects that are large enough to be seen by the naked eye follow the rules of classical physics. A billiard ball moving on a table will behave like a particle; it will continue traveling in a straight line unless it collides with another ball, or it is acted on by some other force, such as friction. The ball has a well-defined position and velocity or well-defined momentum, p = mv, which is defined by mass m and velocity v at any given moment. This is the typical...
25.7K
02:42Valence Bond Theory
8.9K
Coordination compounds and complexes exhibit different colors, geometries, and magnetic behavior, depending on the metal atom/ion and ligands from which they are composed. In an attempt to explain the bonding and structure of coordination complexes, Linus Pauling proposed the valence bond theory, or VBT, using the concepts of hybridization and the overlapping of the atomic orbitals. According to VBT, the central metal atom or ion (Lewis acid) hybridizes to provide empty orbitals of suitable...
8.9K
01:30The Hall Effect
5.2K
Edwin H. Hall, in the year 1879, devised an experiment that could be used to identify the polarity of the predominant charge carriers in a conducting material. From a historical perspective, this experiment was the first to demonstrate that the charge carriers in most metals are negative.
5.2K
01:17Theory of Metallic Conduction
2.0K
The conduction of free electrons inside a conductor is best described by quantum mechanics. However, a classical model makes predictions close to the results of quantum mechanics. It is called the theory of metallic conduction.
In this theory, Newton's second law of motion is used to determine the acceleration of an electron in the presence of an applied electric field. Then, its velocity is expressed via this acceleration.
An electron moves through the crystal, containing positive ions,...
In this theory, Newton's second law of motion is used to determine the acceleration of an electron in the presence of an applied electric field. Then, its velocity is expressed via this acceleration.
An electron moves through the crystal, containing positive ions,...
2.0K
01:18Indeterminate Structure
1.3K
Indeterminate structures refer to structures where internal forces and reactions cannot be determined using only the equations of static equilibrium. Indeterminate structures have more unknown forces and reaction forces than equations of static equilibrium that can be used to determine them. Indeterminate structures are often used in engineering to create complex, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing structures. There are various types of indeterminate structures used in engineering and...
1.3K
01:17The Principle of Superposition and the Gravitational Field
2.3K
The principle of superposition applies to gravitational forces of objects that are sufficiently far apart. It states that the net gravitational force on a point object is the vector sum of the gravitational forces on it due to various objects. The principle helps calculate the force by listing the individual forces and then vectorially summing them up. However, it should be noted that the principle of superposition is not always apparent. In the presence of a second force, the first force could...
2.3K