Transition between electron localisation and antilocalisation in graphene


Abstract in English

The wave nature of electrons in low-dimensional structures manifests itself in conventional electrical measurements as a quantum correction to the classical conductance. This correction comes from the interference of scattered electrons which results in electron localisation and therefore a decrease of the conductance. In graphene, where the charge carriers are chiral and have an additional (Berry) phase of pi, the quantum interference is expected to lead to anti-localisation: an increase of the conductance accompanied by negative magnetoconductance (a decrease of conductance in magnetic field). Here we observe such negative magnetoconductance which is a direct consequence of the chirality of electrons in graphene. We show that graphene is a unique two-dimensional material in that, depending on experimental conditions, it can demonstrate both localisation and anti-localisation effects. We also show that quantum interference in graphene can survive at unusually high temperatures, up to T~200 K.

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