Microwave-induced nonequilibrium temperature in a suspended carbon nanotube

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that microwave radiation selectively heats suspended carbon nanotubes, increasing conductance and generating a thermovoltage due to temperature differences in the electron system.

Contribution

It reveals the mechanism of microwave-induced heating and thermovoltage generation in suspended carbon nanotubes, highlighting their nonequilibrium temperature behavior.

Findings

Microwave radiation causes selective heating of nanotubes.

Conductance increases with microwave power.

A thermovoltage develops due to electron temperature differences.

Abstract

Antenna-coupled suspended single carbon nanotubes exposed to 108 GHz microwave radiation are shown to be selectively heated with respect to their metal contacts. This leads to an increase in the conductance as well as to the development of a power-dependent DC voltage. The increased conductance stems from the temperature dependence of tunneling into a one-dimensional electron system. The DC voltage is interpreted as a thermovoltage, due to the increased temperature of the electron liquid compared to the equilibrium temperature in the leads.