Theoretical expectations for a fractional quantum Hall effect in graphene

Due to its fourfold spin-valley degeneracy, graphene in a strong magnetic field may be viewed as a four-component quantum Hall system. We investigate the consequences of this particular structure on a possible, yet unobserved, fractional quantum Hall effect in graphene within a trial-wavefunction approach and exact-diagonalisation calculations. This trial-wavefunction approach generalises an original idea by Halperin to account for the SU(2) spin in semiconductor heterostructures with a relatively weak Zeeman effect. Whereas the four-component structure at a filling factor v = 1/3 adds simply a SU(4)ferromagnetic spinor ordering to the otherwise unaltered Laughlin state, the system favours a valley-unpolarised state at v = 2/5 and a completely unpolarised state at v = 4/9. Due to the similar behaviour of the interaction potential in the zero-energy graphene Landau level and the first excited one, we expect these states to be present in both levels. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.