Dirac fermions at the H point of graphite: magnetotransmission studies

Phys Rev Lett. 2008 Apr 4;100(13):136403. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.136403. Epub 2008 Apr 1.

Abstract

We report on far infrared magnetotransmission measurements on a thin graphite sample prepared by exfoliation of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite. In a magnetic field, absorption lines exhibiting a blueshift proportional to sqrt[B] are observed. This is a fingerprint for massless Dirac holes at the H point in bulk graphite. The Fermi velocity is found to be c[over ] =( 1.02+/-0.02) x 10(6) m/s and the pseudogap |Delta| at the H point is estimated to be below 10 meV. Although the holes behave to a first approximation as a strictly 2D gas of Dirac fermions, the full 3D band structure has to be taken into account to explain all the observed spectral features.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't