Critical Delocalization of Chiral Zero Energy Modes in Graphene

Aires Ferreira and Eduardo R. Mucciolo
Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 106601 – Published 31 August 2015
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Abstract

Graphene subjected to chiral-symmetric disorder is believed to host zero energy modes (ZEMs) resilient to localization, as suggested by the renormalization group analysis of the underlying nonlinear sigma model. We report accurate quantum transport calculations in honeycomb lattices with in excess of 109 sites and fine meV resolutions. The Kubo dc conductivity of ZEMs induced by vacancy defects (chiral BDI class) is found to match 4e2/πh within 1% accuracy, over a parametrically wide window of energy level broadenings and vacancy concentrations. Our results disclose an unprecedentedly robust metallic regime in graphene, providing strong evidence that the early field-theoretical picture for the BDI class is valid well beyond its controlled weak-coupling regime.

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  • Received 9 July 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.106601

© 2015 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Aires Ferreira*

  • Department of Physics, University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom

Eduardo R. Mucciolo

  • Department of Physics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida 32816, USA

  • *Corresponding author. aires.ferreira@york.ac.uk

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Issue

Vol. 115, Iss. 10 — 4 September 2015

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