Large intravalley scattering due to pseudo-magnetic fields in crumpled graphene

Abstract

The pseudo-magnetic field generated by mechanical strain in graphene can have dramatic consequences on the behavior of electrons and holes. Here we show that pseudo-magnetic field fluctuations present in crumpled graphene can induce significant intravalley scattering of charge carriers. We detect this by measuring the confocal Raman spectra of crumpled areas, where we observe an increase of the D′/D peak intensity ratio by up to a factor of 300. We reproduce our observations by numerical calculation of the double resonant Raman spectra and interpret the results as experimental evidence of the phase shift suffered by Dirac charge carriers in the presence of a pseudo-magnetic field. This lifts the restriction on complete intravalley backscattering of Dirac fermions.