Random-matrix approach to quantum electron transport in metallic carbon nanotubes

• Published in: Journal of the Physical Society of Japan 2003-11, Vol.72 (11), p.2710-2713
• Main Authors: TAKANE, Yositake, WAKABAYASHI, Katsunori
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Electronic structure and electrical properties of surfaces, interfaces, thin films and low-dimensional structures; Electronic transport in multilayers, nanoscale materials and structures; Exact sciences and technology; Nanotubes; Physics
• ISSN: 0031-9015; 1347-4073
• DOI: 10.1143/jpsj.72.2710

The properties of quantum electron transport through metallic carbon nanotubes with several conducting channels are investigated by the random-matrix approach. Starting from the unique scattering symmetry observed in metallic carbon nanotubes with long-range impurity potential, we can derive the random-matrix representation in which the classical and quantum processes are clearly separated. With increasing system length, the system approaches a fixed point, where only one channel is perfectly conducting and other channels are completely closed. It is shown that such behavior should be attributed to the antilocalization effect. We can describe the decoherence effect on the total transmission probability {T} within the random-matrix theory. For a nanotube of length L, we obtain {T}∼Lφ/L for l\\lesssimLφ