Bending rigidity, sound propagation and ripples in flat graphene

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Aseginolaza, Unai, Diego, Josu, Cea, Tommaso, Bianco, Raffaello, Monacelli, Lorenzo, Libbi, Francesco, Calandra, Matteo, Bergara, Aitor, Mauri, Francesco, Errea, Ion
Format: Preprint
Published: 2020
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author Aseginolaza, Unai
Diego, Josu
Cea, Tommaso
Bianco, Raffaello
Monacelli, Lorenzo
Libbi, Francesco
Calandra, Matteo
Bergara, Aitor
Mauri, Francesco
Errea, Ion
author_facet Aseginolaza, Unai
Diego, Josu
Cea, Tommaso
Bianco, Raffaello
Monacelli, Lorenzo
Libbi, Francesco
Calandra, Matteo
Bergara, Aitor
Mauri, Francesco
Errea, Ion
contents Despite many of the applications of graphene rely on its uneven stiffness and high thermal conductivity, the mechanical properties of graphene, and in general of all 2D materials, are still elusive. The harmonic theory predicts a quadratic dispersion for the flexural acoustic vibrational mode, which leads the unphysical result that long wavelength in-plane acoustic modes decay before vibrating one period, preventing the propagation of sound. The robustness of the quadratic dispersion has been questioned by arguing that the anharmonic phonon-phonon interaction linearizes it. However, this implies a divergent bending rigidity in the long wavelength limit not reproduced experimentally. Here we show that rotational symmetry protects the quadratic flexural dispersion against phonon-phonon interactions and that, consequently, the bending stiffness is non-divergent irrespective of the temperature. Our non-perturbative anharmonic calculations also determine that sound propagation coexists with a quadratic dispersion. We also show that the temperature dependence of the height fluctuations of the membrane, known as ripples, is fully determined by thermal or quantum fluctuations, but without the anharmonic suppression of their amplitude previously assumed. The universality of our conclusions reconcile experimental evidence and theory not just in graphene, but all 2D materials.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2005_12047
institution arXiv
publishDate 2020
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Bending rigidity, sound propagation and ripples in flat graphene
Aseginolaza, Unai
Diego, Josu
Cea, Tommaso
Bianco, Raffaello
Monacelli, Lorenzo
Libbi, Francesco
Calandra, Matteo
Bergara, Aitor
Mauri, Francesco
Errea, Ion
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Despite many of the applications of graphene rely on its uneven stiffness and high thermal conductivity, the mechanical properties of graphene, and in general of all 2D materials, are still elusive. The harmonic theory predicts a quadratic dispersion for the flexural acoustic vibrational mode, which leads the unphysical result that long wavelength in-plane acoustic modes decay before vibrating one period, preventing the propagation of sound. The robustness of the quadratic dispersion has been questioned by arguing that the anharmonic phonon-phonon interaction linearizes it. However, this implies a divergent bending rigidity in the long wavelength limit not reproduced experimentally. Here we show that rotational symmetry protects the quadratic flexural dispersion against phonon-phonon interactions and that, consequently, the bending stiffness is non-divergent irrespective of the temperature. Our non-perturbative anharmonic calculations also determine that sound propagation coexists with a quadratic dispersion. We also show that the temperature dependence of the height fluctuations of the membrane, known as ripples, is fully determined by thermal or quantum fluctuations, but without the anharmonic suppression of their amplitude previously assumed. The universality of our conclusions reconcile experimental evidence and theory not just in graphene, but all 2D materials.
title Bending rigidity, sound propagation and ripples in flat graphene
topic Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2005.12047