Figure 1: Calculations performed on the K computer reveal that stretching graphene will cause it to adopt a Kekulé-like state that is driven by interactions between electrons. © 2018 RIKEN Center for Computational Science

By using quantum simulation methods that model electron interactions explicitly, Yunoki and his colleagues have discovered that graphene transitions to an exotic nonmagnetic topological state called a Kekulé-like dimerized nonmagnetic insulator, which could have interesting technological applications.

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New insulating state found in stretched graphene