Suppression of the stochastic fluctuations of suspended nanowires by temperature-induced single-electron tunneling
Journal article, 2011

We theoretically investigate the electromechanical properties of freely suspended nanowires that are in tunneling contact with the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) and two supporting metallic leads. The aim of our analysis is to characterize the fluctuations of the dynamical variables of the nanowire when a temperature drop is maintained between the STM tip and the leads, which are all assumed to be electrically grounded. By solving a quantum master equation that describes the coupled dynamics of electronic and mechanical degrees of freedom, we found that the stationary state of the mechanical oscillator has a Gaussian character, but that the amplitude of its root-mean square center-of-mass fluctuations is smaller than would be expected if the system were coupled only to the leads at thermal equilibrium.

Coulomb blockade

NEMS

nanotube device

single-electron tunneling

STM

Author

Fabio Santandrea

University of Gothenburg

Leonid Gorelik

Chalmers, Applied Physics, Condensed Matter Theory

Robert I. Shekhter

University of Gothenburg

Mats Jonson

University of Gothenburg

New Journal of Physics

1367-2630 (ISSN)

Vol. 13 10 103017- 103017

Quantum Nanoelectromechanical Systems (QNEMS)

European Commission (EC) (EC/FP7/233992), 2009-09-01 -- 2012-08-31.

Subject Categories

Condensed Matter Physics

DOI

10.1088/1367-2630/13/10/103017

More information

Latest update

3/2/2022 3