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Quantum dephasing in carbon nanotubes due to electron-phonon coupling
Stephan Roche1, Jie Jiang, François Triozon
1CEA/DSM/DRFMC/SPSMS/GT, Grenoble, France.
Physical Review Letters
|October 4, 2005
Summary
Electron-phonon coupling significantly impacts quantum transport in carbon nanotubes. Coherence length fluctuates between 10-150 nm, influenced by charge carrier energy and phonon amplitude.
Area of Science:
- Condensed matter physics
- Materials science
Background:
- Quantum transport in carbon nanotubes is sensitive to electron-phonon interactions.
- Understanding these interactions is crucial for developing advanced electronic devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of electron-phonon coupling on quantum transport properties in carbon nanotubes.
- To analyze the impact of dephasing on conductance in both metallic and semiconducting nanotubes.
Main Methods:
- A time-dependent perturbation of the pi-electron Hamiltonian was used to model vibrational atomic displacements and electron-phonon coupling strength.
- Kubo conductance was studied for metallic and semiconducting carbon nanotubes.
Main Results:
- Electron-phonon coupling was found to affect quantum transport.
- Coherence length (time) scales were observed to fluctuate between 10 to 150 nm (0.01 to 4 ps).
- These fluctuations depend on charge carrier energy and phonon amplitude.
Conclusions:
- Electron-phonon coupling plays a critical role in determining quantum transport characteristics in carbon nanotubes.
- The observed coherence length fluctuations provide insights into the decoherence mechanisms in these systems.