2016/06/27 by Narjes Kheirabadi, Edward McCann, Vladimir I. Fal’ko +1
Chemistry · Materials Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics #Asymmetry #Bilayer #Bilayer graphene #Chemistry #Condensed matter physics #Electric field #Electron #Graphene #Graphene research and applications #Hamiltonian (control theory) #Magnetic field #Materials science #Membrane #Monolayer #Nanotechnology #Physics #Point reflection #Quantum and electron transport phenomena #Quantum mechanics #Ratchet #Ratchet effect #Symmetry breaking #cond-mat.mes-hall
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevb.94.165404
published as Phys. Rev. B 94, 165404 (2016) · 7 pages, 3 figures
arxiv created 2016/06/27 · openalex publication_date 2016/10/06 · arxiv updated 2016/10/12 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
The magnetic ratchet effect is optical rectification in two-dimensional systems -- such as bilayer graphene -- whereby a steady in-plane magnetic field and the alternating electric field of a laser produce a dc electric current. It occurs in systems with broken inversion symmetry due, say, to an inhomogeneous distribution of impurities, leading to increased electronic scattering on the upper layer of the bilayer. For a given direction of electric field, electrons are driven downwards by the Lorentz force towards the lower layer where scattering is low whereas, when the electric field switches direction, electrons are driven towards the upper layer where scattering is high. Such asymmetry in scattering leads to a nonzero dc current. By deriving linear-in-magnetic-field terms in the low-energy electronic Hamiltonian, the authors predict a very large ratchet effect in bilayer graphene. They compare symmetry breaking due to impurities with interlayer asymmetry due to an external gate, the latter allowing for a tuneable magnetic ratchet.