Kinks in the σ Band of Graphene Induced by Electron-Phonon Coupling

Summary, in English

Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy reveals pronounced kinks in the dispersion of the sigma band of graphene. Such kinks are usually caused by the combination of a strong electron-boson interaction and the cutoff in the Fermi-Dirac distribution. They are therefore not expected for the sigma band of graphene that has a binding energy of more than approximate to 3.5 eV. We argue that the observed kinks are indeed caused by the electron-phonon interaction, but the role of the Fermi-Dirac distribution cutoff is assumed by a cutoff in the density of sigma states. The existence of the effect suggests a very weak coupling of holes in the sigma band not only to the pi electrons of graphene but also to the substrate electronic states. This is confirmed by the presence of such kinks for graphene on several different substrates that all show a strong coupling constant of lambda approximate to 1.

• Author: Federico Mazzola; Justin W. Wells; Rositza Yakimova; Soren Ulstrup; Jill A. Miwa; Richard Balog; Marco Bianchi; Mats Leandersson; Johan Adell; Philip Hofmann; Balasubramanian Thiagarajan
• Department/s: MAX IV Laboratory
• Publishing year: 2013
• Language: English
• Publication/Series: Physical Review Letters
• Volume: 111
• Issue: 21
• Links: http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.216806
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• Topic: Physical Sciences; Natural Sciences
• Status: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 1079-7114