Eur. Phys. J. B (2015) 88: 17
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2014-50413-9

Regular Article

Spin-orbit interaction in the graphitic nanocone

¹ Institute of Experimental Physics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Watsonova 47, 043 53 Kosice, Slovak Republic
² Bogoliubov Laboratory of Theoretical Physics, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, 141980 Dubna, Moscow region, Russia
³ Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Czech Technical University, Brehova 7, 110 00 Prague, Czech Republic

^a e-mail: pincak@saske.sk

Received: 19 June 2014
Received in final form: 3 November 2014
Published online: 14 January 2015

Abstract

The Hamiltonian for nanocones with curvature-induced spin-orbit coupling have been derived. The effect of curvature-induced spin-orbit coupling on the electronic properties of graphitic nanocones is considered. Energy spectra for different numbers of the pentagonal defects in the tip of the nanocones are calculated. It was shown that the spin-orbit interaction considerably affects the local density of states of the graphitic nanocone. This influence depends on the number of defects present at the tip of the nanocone. This property could be applied in atomic force microscopy for the construction of the probing tip.