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On the graphene Hamiltonian operator

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Abstract

We solve a second-order elliptic equation with quasi-periodic boundary conditions defined on a honeycomb lattice that represents the arrangement of carbon atoms in graphene. Our results generalize those found by Kuchment and Post (Commun Math Phys 275(3):805–826, 2007) to characterize not only the stability but also the instability intervals of the solutions. This characterization is obtained from the solutions of the energy eigenvalue problem given by the lattice Hamiltonian. We employ tools of the one-dimensional Floquet theory and specify under which conditions the one-dimensional theory is applicable to the structure of graphene. The systematic study of such stability and instability regions provides a tool to understand the propagation properties and behavior of the electrons wavefunction in a hexagonal lattice, a key problem in graphene-based technologies.

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Acknowledgements

C. Conca and J. San Martín were partially supported from PFBasal-01 (CeBiB), PFBasal-03 (CMM) projects. C.Conca also received partial support from Ecos-Conicyt Grant C13E05 and by Fondecyt Grant 1140773. J. San Martín also received partial support from Fondecyt Grant 1180781. V. Solano was partially supported by Scholarship Program of CONICYT-Chile, Folio Number 21110749, by PFBasal-03 (CMM) project and by the Grants SEV-2011-0087 from Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN) of Spain. We would like to thank M. Solano for valuable comments on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mathematical Engineering Department, Center for Mathematical Modeling-UMI 2807 CNRS-UChile and Center for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Universidad de Chile, Beauchef 851, Santiago, Chile

    C. Conca & J. San Martín

  2. Mathematics Department, Science Faculty, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049, Madrid, Spain

    R. Orive

  3. Instituto de Ciencias Matemáticas ICMAT (CSIC-UAM-UC3M-UCM), Nicolás Cabrera, 13-15, 28049, Madrid, Spain

    R. Orive

  4. Mathematical Engineering Department and Center for Mathematical Modeling UMI 2807 CNRS-UChile, Universidad de Chile, Beauchef 851, Santiago, Chile

    V. Solano

  5. Engineering Faculty, Universidad del Desarrollo, Avenida La Plaza 700, Santiago, Chile

    V. Solano

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  1. C. Conca
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  2. R. Orive
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  3. J. San Martín
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  4. V. Solano
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to V. Solano.

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Communicated by Jose Alberto Cuminato.

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Conca, C., Orive, R., Martín, J.S. et al. On the graphene Hamiltonian operator. Comp. Appl. Math. 39, 8 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40314-019-0986-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40314-019-0986-2

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