Geometric phases in graphitic cones

In this Letter we use a geometric approach to study geometric phases in graphitic cones. The spinor that describes the low energy states near the Fermi energy acquires a phase when transported around the apex of the cone, as found by a holonomy transformation. This topological result can be viewed as an analogue of the Aharonov–Bohm effect. The topological analysis is extended to a system with n cones, whose resulting configuration is described by an effective defect.