Imaging Electron Wave Functions of Quantized Energy Levels in Carbon Nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes provide a unique system for studying one-dimensional quantization phenomena. Scanning tunneling microscopy was used to observe the electronic wave functions that correspond to quantized energy levels in short metallic carbon nanotubes. Discrete electron waves were apparent from peri...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1999-01, Vol.283 (5398), p.52-55
Main Authors: Venema, Liesbeth C., Jeroen W. G. Wildöer, Janssen, Jorg W., Tans, Sander J., Hinne L. J. Temminck Tuinstra, Kouwenhoven, Leo P., Dekker, Cees
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Armchairs
Carbon
Carbon nanotubes
Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties
Electric potential
Electron density of states and band structure of crystalline solids
Electron states
Electrons
Energy
Energy levels
Exact sciences and technology
Fullerenes and related materials
intercalation compounds
Hexagons
Nanotechnology
Nanotubes
Physics
Spectroscopy
Wave functions
Wavelengths
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Summary:Carbon nanotubes provide a unique system for studying one-dimensional quantization phenomena. Scanning tunneling microscopy was used to observe the electronic wave functions that correspond to quantized energy levels in short metallic carbon nanotubes. Discrete electron waves were apparent from periodic oscillations in the differential conductance as a function of the position along the tube axis, with a period that differed from that of the atomic lattice. Wave functions could be observed for several electron states at adjacent discrete energies. The measured wavelengths are in good agreement with the calculated Fermi wavelength for armchair nanotubes.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.283.5398.52