21 research outputs found
Graphene plasmonics
Two rich and vibrant fields of investigation, graphene physics and
plasmonics, strongly overlap. Not only does graphene possess intrinsic plasmons
that are tunable and adjustable, but a combination of graphene with noble-metal
nanostructures promises a variety of exciting applications for conventional
plasmonics. The versatility of graphene means that graphene-based plasmonics
may enable the manufacture of novel optical devices working in different
frequency ranges, from terahertz to the visible, with extremely high speed, low
driving voltage, low power consumption and compact sizes. Here we review the
field emerging at the intersection of graphene physics and plasmonics.Comment: Review article; 12 pages, 6 figures, 99 references (final version
available only at publisher's web site
Application of Graphene within Optoelectronic Devices and Transistors
Scientists are always yearning for new and exciting ways to unlock graphene's
true potential. However, recent reports suggest this two-dimensional material
may harbor some unique properties, making it a viable candidate for use in
optoelectronic and semiconducting devices. Whereas on one hand, graphene is
highly transparent due to its atomic thickness, the material does exhibit a
strong interaction with photons. This has clear advantages over existing
materials used in photonic devices such as Indium-based compounds. Moreover,
the material can be used to 'trap' light and alter the incident wavelength,
forming the basis of the plasmonic devices. We also highlight upon graphene's
nonlinear optical response to an applied electric field, and the phenomenon of
saturable absorption. Within the context of logical devices, graphene has no
discernible band-gap. Therefore, generating one will be of utmost importance.
Amongst many others, some existing methods to open this band-gap include
chemical doping, deformation of the honeycomb structure, or the use of carbon
nanotubes (CNTs). We shall also discuss various designs of transistors,
including those which incorporate CNTs, and others which exploit the idea of
quantum tunneling. A key advantage of the CNT transistor is that ballistic
transport occurs throughout the CNT channel, with short channel effects being
minimized. We shall also discuss recent developments of the graphene tunneling
transistor, with emphasis being placed upon its operational mechanism. Finally,
we provide perspective for incorporating graphene within high frequency
devices, which do not require a pre-defined band-gap.Comment: Due to be published in "Current Topics in Applied Spectroscopy and
the Science of Nanomaterials" - Springer (Fall 2014). (17 pages, 19 figures
Laboratory evidence of dynamo amplification of magnetic fields in a turbulent plasma
Magnetic fields are ubiquitous in the Universe. The energy density of these fields is typically comparable to the energy density of the fluid motions of the plasma in which they are embedded, making magnetic fields essential players in the dynamics of the luminous matter. The standard theoretical model for the origin of these strong magnetic fields is through the amplification of tiny seed fields via turbulent dynamo to the level consistent with current observations. However, experimental demonstration of the turbulent dynamo mechanism has remained elusive, since it requires plasma conditions that are extremely hard to re-create in terrestrial laboratories. Here we demonstrate, using laser-produced colliding plasma flows, that turbulence is indeed capable of rapidly amplifying seed fields to near equipartition with the turbulent fluid motions. These results support the notion that turbulent dynamo is a viable mechanism responsible for the observed present-day magnetization
Dirac cones reshaped by interaction effects in suspended graphene
We report measurements of the cyclotron mass in graphene for carrier
concentrations n varying over three orders of magnitude. In contrast to the
single-particle picture, the real spectrum of graphene is profoundly nonlinear
so that the Fermi velocity describing the spectral slope reaches ~3x10^6 m/s at
n <10^10 cm^-2, three times the value commonly used for graphene. The observed
changes are attributed to electron-electron interaction that renormalizes the
Dirac spectrum because of weak screening. Our experiments also put an upper
limit of ~0.1 meV on the possible gap in graphene
Transforming C 60 molecules into graphene quantum dots
10.1038/nnano.2011.30Nature Nanotechnology64247-25