Abstract
The formalism of reduced quantum electrodynamics is generalized to the case of heterostructures composed of a few atomically thick layers, and the corresponding effective (2+1)-dimensional gauge theory is formulated. This dimensionally reduced theory describes charged fermions confined to N planes and contains N vector fields with Maxwell's action modified by non-local form factors whose explicit form is determined. Taking into account the polarization function, the explicit formulae for the screened electromagnetic interaction are presented in the case of two and three layers. For a heterostructure with two atomically thick layers and charged fermions described by the massless Dirac equation, the dynamical gap generation of the excitonic type is studied. It is found that additional screening due to the second layer increases the value of the critical coupling constant for the gap generation compared to that in graphene.