Spin-hedgehog found in graphene

The recent paper of the researchers of Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie confirmed the predictions of our group. The hedgehog and the anti-hedgehog had already been present in the previously realized graphene systems. However, they were inseparably superimposed. Only by breaking of the sublattice symmetry, the hedgehog could be separated from the anti-hedgehog.

• Theoretical paper: Rakyta, P., Kormányos, A. & Cserti, J.: Effect of sublattice asymmetry and spin-orbit interaction on out-of-plane spin polarization of photoelectrons. Phys. Rev. B 83, 155439 (2011). Journal link

• Experimental paper: A. Varykhalov, J. Sánchez-Barriga, D. Marchenko, P. Hlawenka, P.S. Mandal & O. Rader: Tunable Fermi level and hedgehog spin texture in gapped graphene. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS | 6:7610 (2015). Journal link

It also generated some media interest:

• News at ELTE (in hungarian)

• News at National Geography (in hungarian)

• News at the HZP portal