Quantum Reflection of Atoms from 2D Dirac Materials

We show that quantum reflection (QR) from two-dimensional (2D) Dirac materials, such as graphene-based structures, can simultaneously serve as a sensitive probe of the fundamental van der Waals (VDW) / Casimir interaction as well as the 2D material's quasiparticle energy. Attractive atom—2D material potential tails are strongly dependent on material characteristics. We find that applying mechanical strain, introducing carrier doping, or tuning the energy gap by considering different 2D materials, have a profound effect on the QR coefficient. In addition to atoms interacting with graphene in various configurations, we have analyzed the 2D family of semiconducting dichalcogenides. Overall we conclude that quantum reflection phenomena make 2D quantum materials an attractive platform for studies of many-body physics involving atoms near solid-state environments.