Polarization selection rules for inter-Landau-level transitions in epitaxial graphene revealed by the infrared optical Hall effect

Phys Rev Lett. 2013 Aug 16;111(7):077402. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.077402. Epub 2013 Aug 14.

Abstract

We report on the polarization selection rules of inter-Landau-level transitions using reflection-type optical Hall effect measurements from 600 to 4000 cm(-1) on epitaxial graphene grown by thermal decomposition of silicon carbide. We observe symmetric and antisymmetric signatures in our data due to polarization preserving and polarization mixing inter-Landau-level transitions, respectively. From field-dependent measurements, we identify that transitions in coupled graphene monolayers are governed by polarization mixing selection rules, whereas transitions in decoupled graphene monolayers are governed by polarization preserving selection rules. The selection rules may find explanation by different coupling mechanisms of inter-Landau-level transitions with free charge carrier magneto-optic plasma oscillations.