Acoustoelectric current transport through single-walled carbon nanotubes

TL;DR

This study demonstrates quantized acoustoelectric current in single-walled carbon nanotubes by using surface acoustic waves to probe and manipulate their low-dimensional electronic states at cryogenic temperatures.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method of contacting and controlling single-walled carbon nanotubes with surface acoustic waves, revealing quantization effects in acoustoelectric current.

Findings

Quantization of acoustoelectric current observed

Surface acoustic waves probe low-dimensional electronic states

Current measured at 4.2 K

Abstract

We have contacted single-walled carbon nanotubes after aligning the tubes by the use of surface acoustic waves. The acoustoelectric current has been measured at 4.2 K and a probing of the low-dimensional electronic states by the surface acoustic wave has been detected. By decreasing the acoustic wavelength resulting in an adjustment to the length of the defined carbon nanotube constriction a quantization of the acoustoelectric current has been observed.