Midgap states in corrugated graphene: Ab-initio calculations and effective field theory

T. O. Wehling, A. V. Balatsky, A. M. Tsvelik, M. I. Katsnelson, A. I. Lichtenstein

Published 2007-10-31, updated 2008-07-28Version 2

We investigate the electronic properties of corrugated graphene and show how rippling-induced pseudomagnetic fields alter graphene's low-energy electronic properties by combining first principles calculations with an effective field theory. The formation of flat bands near the Fermi level corresponding to pseudo-Landau levels is studied as a function of the rippling parameters. Quenched and relaxed ripples turn out to be fundamentally different is this respect: It is demonstrated, both numerically and analytically, that annealing of quenched ripples can destroy the flat bands.