The effect of spin–orbit interaction on optical conductivity in graphene

Abstract

We present a systematic investigation of the effect of spin–orbit interaction on optical conductivity in monolayer graphene. Our key findings are: (i) level splitting at various crystal symmetry points caused by true spin as well as pseudospin of the electrons gives rise to a resonant current response; (ii) under heavy doping, the spin–orbit interaction leads to a re-entrance of finite conductivity at very low frequency which was strictly forbidden in the absence of spin–orbit coupling; (iii) deformation of band structure and the topological properties of trigonal warping are analytically identified in a low-energy conical-like approximation.