Zero-energy states and the ordered core of the Dirac mass vortex in graphene

by Igor Herbut (Simon Fraser University, Canada)

Tuesday 1 Jun 2010, 11:00 → 12:00 Europe/Stockholm

FA32 (OBS!)

Graphene's honeycomb lattice allows a plethora of order parameters that could be induced spontaneously by strong interactions or by external sources. These order parameters appear as "masses" in the Dirac Hamiltonian for low-energy excitations. In this pedagogical talk I will discuss unexpected dualities that exist between various orders: a vortex configuration in one type of order always forces certain complementary orders to appear in the core. Particularly interesting example of this general rule arises when the order supporting the vortex is superconducting: at sufficiently strong magnetic field the local order in the core is the Kane-Melle topological insulator. A possible experimental realization of this effect will be discussed.