Theory of Bernstein Modes in Graphene

Abstract

We present a theoretical description of Bernstein modes that arise as a result of the coupling between plasmon-like collective excitations (upper-hybrid mode) and inter-Landau-level excitations, in graphene in a perpendicular magnetic field. These modes, which are apparent as avoided level crossings in the spectral function obtained in the random-phase approximation, are described to great accuracy in a phenomenological model. Bernstein modes, which may be measured in inelastic light-scattering experiments or in photo-conductivity spectroscopy, are a manifestation of the Coulomb interaction between the electrons and may be used for a high-precision measurement of the upper-hybrid mode at small non-zero wave vectors.

5 pages. 2 figures; slightly extended version, title changed; accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. B