Electromagnetic-Field-Induced Suppression of Transport throughn−pJunctions in Graphene

We study electronic transport through an $n\mathrm{\text{−}}p$ junction in graphene irradiated by an electromagnetic field (EF). In the absence of EF one may expect the perfect transmission of quasiparticles flowing perpendicular to the junction. We show that the resonant interaction of propagating quasiparticles with the EF induces a dynamic gap between electron and hole bands in the quasiparticle spectrum of graphene. In this case the strongly suppressed quasiparticle transmission is only possible due to interband tunneling. The effect may be used to control transport properties of diverse structures in graphene, e.g., $n\mathrm{\text{−}}p\mathrm{\text{−}}n$ transistors and quantum dots, by variation of the intensity and frequency of the external radiation.