Pseudo chiral anomaly in zigzag graphene ribbons

Area of Science:

• Condensed Matter Physics
• Materials Science
• Solid-State Physics

Background:

• Weyl semimetals, 3D analogs of graphene, exhibit chiral anomaly due to charge pumping in Landau levels.
• Graphene ribbons with zigzag edges present unique edge states and potential for novel electronic phenomena.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate the pseudo chiral anomaly in zigzag graphene ribbons.
• Identify and characterize the transport signatures of this anomaly.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical study of pseudo chiral anomaly in zigzag graphene ribbons.
• Numerical analysis of transport properties under electric and magnetic fields.
• Utilizing the ribbon width as an effective magnetic field (pseudofield).

Main Results:

• Valley chiral bands are induced by edge potentials in zigzag graphene ribbons.
• Nonconservation of chiral current (pseudo chiral anomaly) occurs with a longitudinal electric field.
• Positive pseudo magnetoconductivity shows a near-quadratic dependence on the pseudofield.

Conclusions:

• The study identifies pseudo magnetoconductivity as a key transport signature of pseudo chiral anomaly in zigzag graphene ribbons.
• This work provides a pathway to explore chiral anomaly-like phenomena in 2D materials without requiring external magnetic fields.