The Aharonov–Bohm–Coulomb problem in a graphene ring

Abstract

We study the Aharonov–Bohm–Coulomb problem in a graphene ring. We investigate, in particular, the effects of a Coulomb-type potential of the form ξ/r on the energy spectrum of Dirac electrons in the graphene ring in two different ways: one for the scalar coupling and the other for the vector coupling. It is found that, since the potential in the scalar coupling breaks the time-reversal symmetry (TRS) between the two valleys as well as the effective TRS in a single valley, the energy spectrum of one valley is separated from that of the other valley, demonstrating a valley polarization. In the vector coupling, however, the potential does not break either of the two symmetries and its effect appears only as an additive constant to the spectrum of the Aharonov–Bohm potential. The corresponding persistent currents, the observable quantities of the symmetry-breaking energy spectra, are shown to be asymmetric about zero magnetic flux in the scalar coupling, while symmetric in the vector coupling.