Imaging Electron Wave Functions of Quantized Energy Levels in Carbon Nanotubes
Liesbeth C. Venema,
Jeroen W. G. Wildöer,
Jorg W. Janssen,
Sander J. Tans,
Hinne L. J. Temminck Tuinstra,
Leo
P. Kouwenhoven,
Cees Dekker
*
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.
Department of Applied Physics and DIMES, Delft University of
Technology, Lorentzweg 1, 2628 CJ Delft, Netherlands.
*
To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail:
dekker{at}qt.tn.tudelft.nl
