Optical transparency of graphene as determined by the fine-structure constant

Daniel E. Sheehy and Jörg Schmalian
Phys. Rev. B 80, 193411 – Published 23 November 2009

Abstract

The observed 97.7% optical transparency of graphene has been linked to the value 1/137 of the fine structure constant, by using results for noninteracting Dirac fermions. The agreement in three significant figures requires an explanation for the apparent unimportance of the Coulomb interaction. Using arguments based on Ward identities, the leading corrections to the optical conductivity due to the Coulomb interactions are correctly computed (resolving a theoretical dispute) and shown to amount to only 1%–2%, corresponding to 0.03%–0.04% in the transparency.

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  • Received 8 October 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.80.193411

©2009 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Daniel E. Sheehy1 and Jörg Schmalian2

  • 1Department of Physics and Astronomy, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, USA
  • 2Department of Physics and Astronomy and Ames Laboratory, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA

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Issue

Vol. 80, Iss. 19 — 15 November 2009

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