Pseudo Magnetism in Graphene: Particles with SU(4) symmetry

Columbia University
Department of Physics Colloquium
“Pseudo Magnetism in Graphene: Particles with SU(4) symmetry”
Interactions among electrons give rise to striking collective phenomena
when the kinetic energy of charge carriers is suppressed. One example is
the integer and fractional quantum Hall effect, in which correlations
between electrons moving in two dimensions under the influence of a
strong magnetic field generate spontaneously symmetry breaking and
excitations with fractional charge.
Single and bilayer graphene provides a new platform to study many-body
effects due to the relativistic nature of their charge carriers and the SU(4)
symmetry that arises from the electron’s spin and valley degrees of freedom. In this talk I will
discuss some of the unique manifestations of this SU(4) symmetry on correlated electron
phenomena in graphene which leads to phenomena resembling conventional magnetism.
Amir Yacoby, Harvard University
Monday, April 20, 2015 / 428 Pupin Hall / 4:15 PM
wine and cheese following the colloquium