Electronic Aharonov-Bohm Effect Induced by Quantum Vibrations

TL;DR

This paper theoretically demonstrates that quantum vibrations in a nanoelectromechanical system can induce an Aharonov-Bohm effect, affecting charge transport and enabling detection of quantum displacement fluctuations.

Contribution

It introduces a novel quantum-mechanical mechanism linking mechanical vibrations to phase-coherent charge transport via the Aharonov-Bohm effect.

Findings

Quantum vibrations cause positive magnetoresistance in nanotubes.

Magnetoresistance decreases slowly with temperature.

Quantum displacement fluctuations can be detected through this effect.

Abstract

Mechanical displacements of a nanoelectromechanical system (NEMS) shift the electron trajectories and hence perturb phase coherent charge transport through the device. We show theoretically that in the presence of a magnetic feld such quantum-coherent displacements may give rise to an Aharonov-Bohm-type of effect. In particular, we demonstrate that quantum vibrations of a suspended carbon nanotube result in a positive nanotube magnetoresistance, which decreases slowly with the increase of temperature. This effect may enable one to detect quantum displacement fluctuations of a nanomechanical device.