2003/07/31 by D. F. Urban, Daniel F. Urban, Hermann Grabert
Physics and Astronomy · #Physics of Superconductivity and Magnetism #Quantum and electron transport phenomena #Surface and Thin Film Phenomena #cond-mat.mes-hall
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.91.256803
published as Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 256803 (2003) · 4 pages, 4 figures
arxiv created 2003/12/09 · openalex publication_date 2003/12/19 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
A quantum-mechanical stability analysis of metallic nanowires within the free-electron model is presented. The stability is determined by an interplay of electron-shell effects, the Rayleigh instability due to surface tension, and the Peierls instability. Although the latter effect limits the maximum length also for wires with "magic radii," it is found that nanowires in the micrometer range can be stable at room temperature.