We investigate the effect of a periodic potential on the electronic states and conductance of graphene. It is demonstrated that for a cosine potential $V(x)=V_0\cos (G_{0}x)$, new zero energy states emerge whenever $J_0(\frac{2V_0}{\hslash v_F{G}_0})=0$. The phase of the wave functions of these states is shown to be related to periodic solutions of the equation of motion of an overdamped particle in a periodic potential, subject to a periodic force. Numerical solutions of the Dirac equation confirm the existence of these states, and demonstrate the chirality of states in their vicinity. Conductance resonances are shown to accompany the emergence of these induced Dirac points.

• Received 3 April 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.046809