Monte Carlo Simulation of the Semimetal-Insulator Phase Transition in Monolayer Graphene

Understand

A 2+1 dimensional fermion field theory is proposed as a model for the low-energy electronic excitations in monolayer graphene.

• The model consists of N=2 four-component Dirac fermions moving in the plane and interacting via a contact interaction between charge densities.
• For strong couplings there is a continuous transition to a Mott insulting phase.
• We present results of an extensive numerical study of the model's critical region, including the order parameter, its associated susceptibility, and for the first time the quasiparticle propagator.