Theory of unconventional quantum Hall effect in strained graphene

Abstract

We show through both theoretical arguments and numerical calculations that graphene discerns an unconventional sequence of quantized Hall conductivity, when subject to both magnetic fields ($B$) and strain. The latter produces time-reversal symmetric pseudo/axial magnetic fields ($b$). The single-electron spectrum is composed of two interpenetrating sets of Landau levels (LLs), located at $\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}\sqrt{2n|b\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}B|}$, $n=0,1,2,...$. For $b>B$, these two sets of LLs have opposite chiralities, resulting in oscillating Hall conductivity between 0 and $\ensuremath{\mp}2{e}^{2}/h$ in electron and hole doped systems, respectively, when the chemical potential is tuned in the vicinity of the neutrality point. The electron-electron interactions stabilize various correlated ground states, e.g., spin-polarized, quantum spin Hall insulators at and near the neutrality point, and possibly the anomalous Hall insulating phase at incommensurate filling $\ensuremath{\sim}$$B$. Such broken-symmetry ground states have similarities as well as significant differences from their counterparts in the absence of strain. For realistic strength of magnetic fields and interactions, we present scaling of the interaction-induced gap for various Hall states within the zeroth Landau level.