Collective edge modes of a quantum Hall ferromagnet in graphene

Abstract

We derive an effective field-theoretical model for the one-dimensional collective mode associated with a domain wall in a quantum Hall ferromagnetic state, as realized in confined graphene systems at zero filling. To this end we consider the coupling of a quantum spin ladder forming near a kink in the Zeeman field to the spin fluctuations of a neighboring spin polarized two-dimensional environment. It is shown, in particular, that such coupling may induce anisotropy of the exchange coupling in the legs of the ladder. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the resulting ferromagnetic spin-$/text{1/2}$ ladder, subject to a kinked magnetic field, can be mapped to an antiferromagnetic spin chain at zero magnetic field.