Kondo Quantum Criticality of Magnetic Adatoms in Graphene

We examine the exchange Hamiltonian for magnetic adatoms in graphene with localized inner shell states. On symmetry grounds, we predict the existence of a class of orbitals that lead to a distinct class of quantum critical points in graphene, where the Kondo temperature scales as $T_{K}\propto|J-J_{c}|^{1/3}$ near the critical coupling $J_{c}$, and the local spin is effectively screened by a \emph{super-ohmic} bath. For this class, the RKKY interaction decays spatially with a fast power law $\sim1/R^{7}$. Away from half filling, we show that the exchange coupling in graphene can be controlled across the quantum critical region by gating. We propose that the vicinity of the Kondo quantum critical point can be directly accessed with scanning tunneling probes and gating.Comment: 4.1 pages, 3 figures. Added erratum correcting exponent nu=1/3. All the other results remain vali

Adatoms and Anderson localization in graphene

We address the nature of the disordered state that results from the adsorption of adatoms in graphene. For adatoms that sit at the center of the honeycomb plaquette, as in the case of most transition metals, we show that the ones that form a zero-energy resonant state lead to Anderson localization in the vicinity of the Dirac point. Among those, we show that there is a symmetry class of adatoms where Anderson localization is suppressed, leading to an exotic metallic state with large and rare charge droplets, that localizes only at the Dirac point. We identify the experimental conditions for the observation of the Anderson transition for adatoms in graphene.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, 2 appendixes, Final versio

Magnetic exchange mechanism for electronic gap opening in graphene

We show within a local self-consistent mean-field treatment that a random distribution of magnetic adatoms can open a robust gap in the electronic spectrum of graphene. The electronic gap results from the interplay between the nature of the graphene sublattice structure and the exchange interaction between adatoms.The size of the gap depends on the strength of the exchange interaction between carriers and localized spins and can be controlled by both temperature and external magnetic field. Furthermore, we show that an external magnetic field creates an imbalance of spin-up and spin-down carriers at the Fermi level, making doped graphene suitable for spin injection and other spintronic applications.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

Electron-Electron Interactions in the Vacuum Polarization of Graphene

We discuss the effect of electron-electron interactions on the static polarization properties of graphene beyond RPA. Divergent self-energy corrections are naturally absorbed into the renormalized coupling constant $\alpha$. We find that the lowest order vertex correction, which is the first non-trivial correlation contribution, is finite, and about 30% of the RPA result at strong coupling $\alpha \sim 1$. The vertex correction leads to further reduction of the effective charge. Finite contributions to dielectric screening are expected in all orders of perturbation theory.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures; published versio