Polarization optics analogy of quantum wavefunctions in graphene

Journal Article · Thu Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2010 · Journal of the Optical Society of America. Part B, Optical Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/JOSAB.27.001325· OSTI ID:22046848

Dragoman, D ^[1]

---

1. University of Bucharest, Physics Department, P.O. Box MG-11, 077125 Bucharest (Romania)

Detailed similarities between polarization states of light and ballistic charge carriers in graphene are derived. Based on these, the optical equivalent of quantum wavefunctions, the Dirac equation, and the effect of an electrostatic potential are found, and the quantum analogs of the refractive index of light and of the optical composition law of reflection coefficients are obtained. The differences between the behaviors of quantum wavefunctions in graphene and electromagnetic fields, due to the chiral symmetry of ballistic charge carriers that cannot be mimicked in classical polarization optics, are also evidenced.

• OSTI ID: 22046848
• Journal Information: Journal of the Optical Society of America. Part B, Optical Physics, Vol. 27, Issue 7; Other Information: (c) 2010 Optical Society of America; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0740-3224
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
CHARGE CARRIERS
CHIRAL SYMMETRY
DIRAC EQUATION
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
GRAPHITE
NANOSTRUCTURES
OPTICS
POLARIZATION
POTENTIALS
QUANTUM STATES
REFLECTION
REFRACTIVE INDEX
VISIBLE RADIATION
WAVE FUNCTIONS