Bilayer Graphene Interferometry: Phase Jump and Wave Collimation

Abstract

We theoretically study the phase of the reflection amplitude of an electron (massive Dirac fermion) at a lateral potential step in Bernal-stacked bilayer graphene. The phase shows an anomalous jump of pi, as the electron incidence angle (relative to the normal direction to the step) varies to pass +/-pi/4. The jump is attributed to the Berry phase associated with the pseudospin-1/2 of the electron. This Berry-phase effect is robust against the band-gap opening due to the external electric gates generating the step. We propose an interferometry setup in which collimated waves can be generated and tuned. By using the setup, one can identify both the pi jump and the collimation angle.