Aharonov-Bohm effect for a valley-polarized current in graphene

A. Rycerz, C. W. J. Beenakker

Published 2007-09-21Version 1

This is a numerical study of the conductance of an Aharonov-Bohm interferometer in a tight-binding model of graphene. Two single-mode ballistic point contacts with zigzag edges are connected by two arms of a hexagonal ring enclosing a magnetic flux $\Phi$. The point contacts function as valley filters, transmitting electrons from one valley of the band structure and reflecting electrons from the other valley. We find, in the wider rings, that the magnetoconductance oscillations with the fundamental periodicity $\Delta\Phi=h/e$ are suppressed when the two valley filters have opposite polarity, while the second and higher harmonics are unaffected or enhanced. This frequency doubling is interpreted in terms of a larger probability of intervalley scattering for electrons that travel several times around the ring. In the narrowest rings the current is blocked for any polarity of the valley filters, with small, nearly sinusoidal magnetoconductance oscillations. Qualitatively similar results are obtained if the hexagonal ring is replaced by a ring with an irregular boundary.