Theory of inter-edge superexchange in zigzag edge magnetism

Abstract

A graphene nanoribbon with zigzag edges has a gapped magnetic ground state with an antiferromagnetic inter-edge superexchange interaction. We present a theory based on asymptotic properties of the Dirac-model ribbon wavefunction which predicts $W^{-2}$ and $W^{-1}$ ribbon-width dependencies for the superexchange interaction strength and the charge gap respectively. We find that, unlike the case of conventional atomic scale superexchange, opposite spin-orientations on opposite edges of the ribbon are favored by both kinetic and interaction energies.