Artificial graphene in nanopatterned GaAs Quantum Wells*

Electrons in graphene have linear energy-momentum dispersion, making them massless Dirac fermions. An alternative way to achieve massless Dirac-fermions in a controlled and tunable manner is to construct a honeycomb lattice potential for a 2D electron gas in a semiconductor quantum well. We report realization of very short period (as small as 40 nm) honeycomb lattice pattern using e-beam lithography and drying etching on a GaAs quantum well and spectroscopy data of electron states under this potential modulation. The study is carried out using photoluminescence and light scattering at low temperature (about 4K). Inter mini-band transitions are observed by resonant inelastic light scattering and interpreted with calculated mini-band structure. Control over parameters such as Fermi level should permit manipulation of massless fermions. This will provide a platform for novel behavior such as topological states in a semiconductor quantum simulator.