Are conductance plateaus independent events in atomic point contact measurements ? A statistical approach

TL;DR

This study uses statistical analysis of conductance-elongation curves from gold atomic wires to determine whether conductance plateaus are independent events, revealing their probabilistic independence at room temperature.

Contribution

It introduces a statistical approach to analyze conductance plateaus in atomic point contacts, demonstrating their independence through experimental data.

Findings

Conductance plateaus at 2e2/h and 4e2/h are statistically independent events.

Probabilities of observing each plateau are analyzed and shown to be independent.

Results support the idea that conductance plateaus occur as independent phenomena.

Abstract

Room temperature conductance-elongation curves of gold atomic wires are measured using a Scanning Tunnelling Microscope Break Junction technique. Landauer's conductance plateaus are individually identified and statistically analysed. Both the probabilities to observe, and the lengths of the two last plateaus (at conductance values close to 2e2/h and 4e2/h) are studied. All results converge to show that the occurrence of these two conductance plateaus on a conductance-elongation curve are statistically independent events.