We describe an undergraduate laboratory experiment on conductance steps observed to occur near integer multiples of as nanocontacts form and break between gold wires in loose contact. This experimental arrangement was first described by Costa-Krämer et al. [Surf. Sci. 342, L1144 (1995)]. A simple op-amp circuit in conjunction with an inexpensive storage oscilloscope suffice to observe the steps. The experiment may be extended by interfacing to a computer, which accumulates a histogram of conductance values as the wires are brought into and out of contact many times. The histogram shows peaks near integer multiples of We emphasize the pedagogical issues involved in bringing an experiment from forefront condensed-matter physics research into the undergraduate laboratory.
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May 01 1999
An undergraduate laboratory experiment on quantized conductance in nanocontacts Available to Purchase
E. L. Foley;
E. L. Foley
Physics and Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003
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D. Candela;
D. Candela
Physics and Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003
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K. M. Martini;
K. M. Martini
Physics and Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003
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M. T. Tuominen
M. T. Tuominen
Physics and Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003
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E. L. Foley
Physics and Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003
D. Candela
Physics and Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003
K. M. Martini
Physics and Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003
M. T. Tuominen
Physics and Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003
Am. J. Phys. 67, 389–393 (1999)
Article history
Received:
June 29 1998
Accepted:
October 05 1998
Citation
E. L. Foley, D. Candela, K. M. Martini, M. T. Tuominen; An undergraduate laboratory experiment on quantized conductance in nanocontacts. Am. J. Phys. 1 May 1999; 67 (5): 389–393. https://doi.org/10.1119/1.19273
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