Graphene

Organizers:

Andre Geim (Exp.)

Mikhail Katsnelson (Theory)

Alberto Morpurgo (Exp.)

Jeroen van den Brink (Theory)

A year ago, two articles published in Science and PNAS have demonstrated the possibility to isolate and investigate graphene, i.e. individual layers of graphite only one-atom-thick. In two subsequent back-to-back Nature papers experiments were reported showing that charge carriers in graphene behave as two-dimensional relativistic particles. In the past, the study of relativistic particles has been the exclusive domain of high-energy physics. In graphene, the physics of relativistic electrons is now experimentally accessible in solid-state devices, whose behavior differs drastically from that of similar devices fabricated with common semiconductors. As a consequence, new unexpected phenomena have been observed, and phenomena that are well understood in common semiconductors –such as the quantum Hall effect or weak-localization- exhibit surprising differences in graphene. Thus, graphene devices enable the study of relativistic dynamics in controllable nano-electronic circuits (“relativistic electrons on-a-chip”) and their behavior questions our most basic understanding of electronic processes in solids. It has been said that to understand the electronic properties of graphene responsible for these phenomena “we will have to re-write the theory of metals”.

For its conceptual –and possibly practical- relevance, the discovery of graphene is attracting attention throughout the world. A constant flow of manuscripts discussing different aspects of graphene electronics have been appearing in scientific journals and on public preprint servers during the past few months. On the cond-mat preprint server only, over 100 manuscripts on graphene have appeared in the last year. This demonstrates the attention that the subject is receiving worldwide: it underscores that the discovery of graphene is a major achievement that opens new unexplored research fields. 

To enhance the exchange of new ideas between all participants we intend to have an open program with three talks per day, which leaves ample time for discussions. This workshop will also provide a unique opportunity to bring together the community of Dutch researchers working on graphene, approximately one year after the initial breakthrough discovery. This will be particularly useful to concert future graphene efforts in the Netherlands.

We have slots for ~18 speakers (5 days: 2 every morning, 1 or 2 every afternoon). We expect to have about 55 participants. It is our intention that a substantial number of participants will junior researchers in the field. We will organize a poster session where also they will have the possibility to present their results.