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"Two-dimensional gas of massless
Dirac fermions in graphene," by
K.S. Novoselov and 7 others, Nature, 438(7065): 197-200, 10 November
2005.
[Authors' affiliations: University of
Manchester, U.K.; Institute for Microelectronics, Chernogolovka, Russia;
Radboud University of Nijmegen, Netherlands]
Abstract:
"Quantum electrodynamics (resulting from the merger of quantum mechanics
and relativity theory) has provided a clear understanding of phenomena ranging
from particle physics to cosmology and from astrophysics to quantum chemistry.
The ideas underlying quantum electrodynamics also influence the theory of
condensed matter, but quantum relativistic effects are usually minute in the
known experimental systems that can be described accurately by the
non-relativistic Schrodinger equation. Here we report an experimental study of
a condensed-matter system (graphene, a single atomic layer of carbon) in which
electron transport is essentially governed by Dirac's (relativistic) equation.
The charge carriers in graphene mimic relativistic particles with zero rest
mass and have an effective 'speed of light' c* approximate to 10(6) m s(-1).
Our study reveals a variety of unusual phenomena that are characteristic of
two-dimensional Dirac fermions. In particular we have observed the following:
first, graphene's conductivity never falls below a minimum value corresponding
to the quantum unit of conductance, even when concentrations of charge
carriers tend to zero; second, the integer quantum Hall effect in graphene is
anomalous in that it occurs at half-integer filling factors; and third, the
cyclotron mass m(c) of massless carriers in graphene is described by E = m(c)c(*)(2).
This two-dimensional system is not only interesting in itself but also allows
access to the subtle and rich physics of quantum electrodynamics in a
bench-top experiment."
This 2005 report from Nature was cited
28 times in current journal articles indexed by Thomson
Scientific during July-August 2006. Only one other physics paper published in
the last two years (excluding reviews) collected a higher number of citations
during that two-month period. Prior to the most recent two-month count,
citations to the paper have accrued as follows:
May-June 2006: 12 citations
March-April 2006: 7
January-February 2006: 1
November-December 2005: 1
Total citations to date: 49
SOURCE: Hot
Papers Database (Included with a subscription to the print newsletter Science
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Research Services Group. Packaged on a CD that is mailed with each Science
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six times a year. The CD also includes an electronic version of the Science
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