Electron Optics and Valley Hall Effect of Undulated Graphene.

Abstract

Electron optics is the systematic use of electromagnetic (EM) fields to control electron motions. In graphene, strain induces pseudo-electromagnetic fields to guide electron motion. Here we demonstrate the use of substrate topography to impart desirable strain on graphene to induce static pseudo-EM fields. We derive the quasi-classical equation of motion for Dirac Fermions in a pseudo-EM field in graphene and establish the correspondence between the quasi-classical and quantum mechanical snake states. Based on the trajectory analysis, we design sculpted substrates to realize various "optical devices" such as a converging lens or a collimator, and further propose a setup to achieve valley Hall effect solely through substrate patterning, without any external fields, to be used in valleytronics applications. Finally, we discuss how the predicted strain/pseudo-EM field patterns can be experimentally sustained by typical substrates and generalized to other 2D materials.