Session A1: Plenary Session I
8:30 AM–10:18 AM, Saturday, April 14, 2007
Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront Room: Grand 4-5
Chair: Leo Kadanoff, University of Chicago
Abstract ID: BAPS.2007.APR.A1.2
Abstract: A1.00002 : Electrons in Flatland
9:06 AM–9:42 AM
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Abstract 
Author:
Allan MacDonald
(University of Texas at Austin )
Like the classical squares and triangles in Edwin Abbott's 19th century social satire and science fiction novel {\em Flatland}, electrons and other quantum particles behave differently when confined to a two-dimensional world. Condensed matter physicists have been intrigued and regularly suprised by two-dimensional electron systems since they were first studied in semiconductor field-effect-transistor devices over forty years ago. I will discuss some important milestones in the study of two-dimensional electrn systems, from the discoveries of the integer and fractional quantum Hall effects in the 1980's to recent quantum Hall effect work on quasiparticles with non-Abelian quantum statistics. Special attention will be given to a new electronic {\em Flatland} that has risen to prominence recently, graphene, which consists of a single sheet of carbon atoms in a honeycomb lattice arrangement. Graphene provides a realization of two-dimensional massless Dirac fermions which interact via nearly instantaneous Coulomb interactions. Early research on graphene has demonstrated yet again that {\em Flatland} exceeds expectations.
To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2007.APR.A1.2