Realizing One-dimensional Metallic States in Graphene via Periodically Coupled Zeroth Pseudo-Landau Levels

Abstract: Strain-induced pseudo-magnetic fields can mimic real magnetic fields to generate a zero-magnetic-field analogue of the Landau levels (LLs), i.e., the pseudo-LLs, in graphene. The distinct nature of the pseudo-LLs enables one to realize novel electronic states beyond that can be feasible with real LLs. Here, we report the realization of one-dimensional (1D) metallic states, which can be described well by the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model, in graphene via periodically coupled zeroth pseudo-LLs. In our experiment, nanoscale strained structures embedded with pseudo-LLs are generated periodically along 1D channel of suspended graphene monolayer. Our experiments demonstrate that the zeroth pseudo-LLs of these strained structures are coupled to form metallic states, exhibiting a serpentine pattern that snakes back and forth along the 1D suspended graphene monolayer. These results are verified theoretically by large-scale tight-binding calculations of the strained samples. Our result provides a new pathway to realize novel quantum states and engineer the electronic properties of graphene by using the localized pseudo-LLs as building blocks.