English

Andreev reflection and Klein tunneling in graphene

Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics 2009-09-29 v2

Abstract

This is a colloquium-style introduction to two electronic processes in a carbon monolayer (graphene), each having an analogue in relativistic quantum mechanics. Both processes couple electron-like and hole-like states, through the action of either a superconducting pair potential or an electrostatic potential. The first process, Andreev reflection, is the electron-to-hole conversion at the interface with a superconductor. The second process, Klein tunneling, is the tunneling through a p-n junction. Existing and proposed experiments on Josephson junctions and bipolar junctions in graphene are discussed from a unified perspective. CONTENTS: I. INTRODUCTION II. BASIC PHYSICS OF GRAPHENE (Dirac equation; Time reversal symmetry; Boundary conditions; Pseudo-diffusive dynamics) III. ANDREEV REFLECTION (Electron-hole conversion; Retro-reflection vs. specular reflection; Dirac-Bogoliubov-de Gennes equation; Josephson junctions; Further reading) IV. KLEIN TUNNELING (Absence of backscattering; Bipolar junctions; Magnetic field effects; Further reading) V. ANALOGIES (Mapping between NS and p-n junction; Retro-reflection vs. negative refraction; Valley-isospin dependent quantum Hall effect; Pseudo-superconductivity)

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.0710.3848,
  title  = {Andreev reflection and Klein tunneling in graphene},
  author = {C. W. J. Beenakker},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0710.3848},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

20 pages, 28 figures; "Colloquium" for Reviews of Modern Physics

R2 v1 2026-06-21T09:34:16.707Z