Coherent Optical Control of Electron Dynamics in Patterned Graphene Nanoribbons

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Rüstemeier, Riek H., Collado, H. P. Ojeda, Mathey, Ludwig
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Rüstemeier, Riek H.
Collado, H. P. Ojeda
Mathey, Ludwig
author_facet Rüstemeier, Riek H.
Collado, H. P. Ojeda
Mathey, Ludwig
contents The field of coherent electronics aims to advance electronic functionalities by utilizing quantum coherence. Here, we demonstrate a viable and versatile methodology for controlling electron dynamics optically in graphene nanoribbons. In particular, we propose to flatten the band structure of armchair graphene nanoribbons via control electrodes, arranged periodically along the extended direction of the nanoribbon. This addresses a key mechanism for dephasing in solids, which derives from the momentum dependence of the energy gap between the valence and the conduction band. We design an optimal driving field pulse to produce collective Rabi oscillations between these bands, in their flattened configuration. As an example for coherent control, we show that these optimized pulses can be used to invert the entire electronic band population by a $π$ pulse in a reversible fashion, and to create a superposition state via a $π/2$ pulse, which generates an alternating photocurrent. Our proposal consists of a platform and methodological approach to optically control the electron dynamics of graphene nanoribbons, paving the way toward novel coherent electronic and quantum information processing devices in solid-state materials.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2510_08678
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Coherent Optical Control of Electron Dynamics in Patterned Graphene Nanoribbons
Rüstemeier, Riek H.
Collado, H. P. Ojeda
Mathey, Ludwig
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
The field of coherent electronics aims to advance electronic functionalities by utilizing quantum coherence. Here, we demonstrate a viable and versatile methodology for controlling electron dynamics optically in graphene nanoribbons. In particular, we propose to flatten the band structure of armchair graphene nanoribbons via control electrodes, arranged periodically along the extended direction of the nanoribbon. This addresses a key mechanism for dephasing in solids, which derives from the momentum dependence of the energy gap between the valence and the conduction band. We design an optimal driving field pulse to produce collective Rabi oscillations between these bands, in their flattened configuration. As an example for coherent control, we show that these optimized pulses can be used to invert the entire electronic band population by a $π$ pulse in a reversible fashion, and to create a superposition state via a $π/2$ pulse, which generates an alternating photocurrent. Our proposal consists of a platform and methodological approach to optically control the electron dynamics of graphene nanoribbons, paving the way toward novel coherent electronic and quantum information processing devices in solid-state materials.
title Coherent Optical Control of Electron Dynamics in Patterned Graphene Nanoribbons
topic Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.08678