Progress of Theoretical Physics Supplement No. 176, 2008 253 Pseudospin and Deformation-Induced Gauge Field in Graphene

The basic properties of π-electrons near the Fermi level in graphene are reviewed from a point of view of the pseudospin and a gauge field coupling to the pseudospin. The applications of the gauge field to the electron-phonon interaction and to the edge states are reported. The electronic properties of a single layer of graphite, graphene1)–4) have at-tracted much attention due to the “relativistic ” character of π-electrons near the Fermi level. The energy band structure of graphene exhibits a linear energy disper-sion relation around the two inequivalent, hexagonal corners of the first Brilloui