Boundary Modes from Periodic Magnetic and Pseudomagnetic Fields in Graphene

Single-layer graphenes subject to periodic lateral strains are artificial crystals that can support boundary spectra with an intrinsic polarity. These are analyzed by comparing the effects of periodic magnetic fields and strain-induced pseudomagnetic fields that respectively break and preserve time-reversal symmetry. In the former case, a Chern classification of the superlattice minibands with zero total magnetic flux enforces {\it single} counter-propagating modes traversing each bulk gap on opposite boundaries of a nanoribbon. For the pseudomagnetic field, pairs of counter-propagating modes migrate to the {\it same} boundary where they provide well-developed valley-helical transport channels on a single zigzag edge. We discuss possible schemes for implementing this situation and their experimental signatures.
Comment: 5+12 pages; 3+6 figures; version accepted to Physical Review Letters