Summary of the Dirac Materials project

The elegant Dirac equation, describing the linear dispersion (energy/momentum) relation of electrons at relativistic speeds, has profound consequences such as the prediction of antiparticles, reflection less tunneling (Klein paradox) and others. The recent discovery of graphene and topological insulators highlights the scientific importance and technological promise of materials with "relativistic Dirac dispersion" of electrons for functional materials and device applications. The term "Dirac materials" encompasses a subset of (materials) systems in which the low energy phase space for fermion excitations is reduced compared to conventional band structure predictions (i.e. point or lines of nodes vs. full Fermi Surface).

The aim of the ERC funded project is to use the sensitivity of nodes in the electron spectrum of Dirac materials to induce controlled modifications of the Dirac points/lines via band structure engineering in artificial structures and molecular devices, via scattering processes and controlled doping. This research will expand our theoretical understanding and guide design of materials and engineered geometries that allow tunable energy profiles of Dirac carriers.