Bielectron vortices in two-dimensional Dirac semimetals.

ABSTRACT: Searching for new states of matter and unusual quasi-particles in emerging materials and especially low-dimensional systems is one of the major trends in contemporary condensed matter physics. Dirac materials, which host quasi-particles which are described by ultrarelativistic Dirac-like equations, are of a significant current interest from both a fundamental and applied physics perspective. Here we show that a pair of two-dimensional massless Dirac-Weyl fermions can form a bound state independently of the sign of the inter-particle interaction potential, as long as this potential decays at large distances faster than Kepler's inverse distance law. This leads to the emergence of a new type of energetically favorable quasiparticle: bielectron vortices, which are double-charged and reside at zero-energy. Their bosonic nature allows for condensation and may give rise to Majorana physics without invoking a superconductor. These novel quasi-particles arguably explain a range of poorly understood experiments in gated graphene structures at low doping.Two-dimensional Dirac semimetals are known to host fermionic excitations which can mimic physics usually found in ultrarelativistic quantum mechanics. Here, the authors unveil the existence of another type of quasiparticle, bielectron vortices, which are bosonic and may give rise to new types of condensates.

SUBMITTER: Downing CA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5638912 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature