quantum wire
(rus. квантовая проволока otherwise квантовая нить)
—
a filamentary object, whose cross-sectional dimensions satisfy the condition of size quantisation. The potential energy of the electron in this object is lower than outside of it, and the electron motion is restricted to two dimensions due to small cross size (usually 1-10 nm). Movement along the filament axis remains free, while movement in other directions is quantised, and its energy can only take discrete values.
Description
Quantum wires are one-dimensional electronic systems, the most outstanding representatives of which are carbon nanotubes and semiconductor heterostructures. The latter are manufactured using lithographic technology by etching a narrow strip in a heterostructure (Fig.).
Illustrations
|
Quantum wire produced by submicron lithography through etching of a thin strip from a heterostructure [1]: 1 – semiconductor with a wide band gap (e.g., AlGaAs), 2 – semiconductor with a narrow band gap (e.g., GaAs). |
Author
- Streletskiy Alexey V.
Sources
- Shik A. Ja. Quantum wires // Sorosovskijj obrazovatel'nyjj zhurnal (in Russian), 1997. №5. 87–92 pp.
- Quantum wire // McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms. 6th ed. — The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2002. — www.answers.com/library/Sci%252DTech+Dictionary-cid-4731863 (reference date: 12.12.2011).