2002/09/30 by C. H. Zhang, C.-H. Zhang, F. Kassubek +3 · 1 citation
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Molecular Junctions and Nanostructures #Quantum and electron transport phenomena #Surface and Thin Film Phenomena #cond-mat.mes-hall
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevb.68.165414
published as Phys. Rev. B 68, 165414 (2003) · 9 pages, 5 figures, expanded version
arxiv created 2003/07/31 · openalex publication_date 2003/10/23 · arxiv updated 2009/11/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
The surface dynamics and thermodynamics of metal nanowires are investigated in a continuum model. Competition between surface tension and electron-shell effects leads to a rich stability diagram, with fingers of stability extending to extremely high temperatures for certain magic conductance values. The linearized dynamics of the nanowire's surface are investigated, including both acoustic surface phonons and surface self-diffusion of atoms. On the stability boundary, the surface exhibits critical fluctuations, and the nanowire becomes inhomogeneous. Some stability fingers coalesce at higher temperatures, or exhibit overhangs, leading to reentrant behavior. The nonlinear surface dynamics of unstable nanowires are also investigated in a single-mode approximation. We find evidence that some unstable nanowires do not break, but rather neck down to the next stable radius.