Light-Induced Fractional Quantum Hall Phases in Graphene

Area of Science:

• Condensed Matter Physics
• Quantum Optics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Fractional quantum Hall (FQH) phases are exotic states of matter in 2D electron systems.
• Monolayer graphene offers a unique platform for exploring FQH physics due to its tunable properties.
• Realizing complex FQH phases, particularly two-component ones, remains a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a novel method for realizing two-component FQH phases in monolayer graphene.
• To investigate the role of optical driving in creating and controlling these phases.
• To explore potential pathways towards non-Abelian topological phases in graphene.

Main Methods:

• Optically driving monolayer graphene with a resonant laser.
• Tuning the laser into resonance between Landau levels to induce effective interlayer tunneling.
• Employing numerical diagonalization to analyze the resulting quantum states.
• Investigating systems at fractional fillings ν=1/2 and ν=2/3.

Main Results:

• Successfully realized two-component FQH phases via optical driving.
• The optical coupling generates an effective hollow-core pseudopotential.
• Singlet states are favored in the weak tunneling regime at specific fillings.
• Identified candidate phases including Haldane-Rezayi, interlayer Pfaffian, and Fibonacci phases.

Conclusions:

• Optical driving provides a viable method to engineer and realize complex FQH phases in graphene.
• This approach offers control over topological phase transitions.
• The method holds promise for the creation of non-Abelian phases using optical fields and photonic structures.