2008/08/31 by J. Schäfer, J. Schaefer, C. Blumenstein +4 · 3 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Atom (system on chip) #Condensed matter physics #Electron #Materials science #Molecular physics #Nanotechnology #Nanowire #Order (exchange) #Physics #Quantum and electron transport phenomena #Quantum mechanics #Quantum tunnelling #Scanning tunneling microscope #Semiconductor materials and interfaces #Substrate (aquarium) #Surface and Thin Film Phenomena #cond-mat.str-el
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.101.236802
4 pages, 4 figures, title reworded, references added, accepted in Phys. Rev. Lett. (20 Oct 2008)
arxiv created 2008/10/24 · openalex publication_date 2008/12/03 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
Unique electronic properties of self-organized Au atom chains on Ge(001) in novel c(8 x 2) long-range order are revealed by scanning tunneling microscopy. Along the nanowires an exceptionally narrow conduction path exists which is virtually decoupled from the substrate. It is laterally confined to the ultimate limit of single atom dimension, and is strictly separated from its neighbors, as not previously reported. The resulting tunneling conductivity shows a dramatic inhomogeneity of 2 orders of magnitude. The atom chains thus represent an outstandingly close approach to a one-dimensional electron liquid.