Foldy-Wouthuysen transformation and multiwave states of a graphene electron in external fields and free (2+1)-space

Abstract

Abstract The relativistic Foldy-Wouthuysen transformation is used for an advanced description of planar graphene electrons in external fields and free (2+1)-space. It is shown that the initial Dirac equation should by based on the usual (4 × 4) Dirac matrices but not on the reduction of matrix dimensions and the use of (2 × 2) Pauli matrices. Nevertheless, the both approaches agree with the experimental data on graphene electrons in a uniform magnetic field. The pseudospin of graphene electrons is not the one-value spin and takes the values ±1/2. The exact Foldy-Wouthuysen Hamiltonian of a graphene electron in uniform and nonuniform magnetic fields is derived. The exact energy spectrum agreeing with the experiment and exact Foldy-Wouthuysen wave eigenfunctions are obtained. These eigenfunctions describe multiwave (structured) states in the (2+1)-space. It is proven that the Hermite-Gauss beams exist even in the free space. In the multiwave Hermite-Gauss states, graphene electrons acquire nonzero effective masses dependent on a quantum number and move with group velocities which are less than the Fermi velocity. Graphene electrons in a static electric field also can exist in the multiwave Hermite-Gauss states defining non-spreading coherent beams. These beams can be accelerated and decelerated.