Final Report Summary - TUN-CNT (Studies of One-Dimensional Tunneling in Carbon Nanotubes)
This IRG grant focused on studying tunneling junctions in ultraclean nanotubes, and their effect on the physics of single electrons. The goal was to construct novel nanotube device architectures within which we can create controllable tunneling barriers along the tube and use these devices for various physical studies. This project was specifically suited for the reintegration grant since it allowed using the constructed devices in various research activities in the lab, thereby maximizing the transfer of knowledge to many PhD and master students that would otherwise work on separate areas. During this project we preformed few central physics studies with these devices. The first focused on the formation of a molecular state by two interacting electrons, a long sought fundamental ground state of these Fermions. The second involved developing a new nano assembly technology that allowed the creation of tunneling barriers of arbitrary complexity in long ultraclean nanotubes. Finally, we used these devices as scanning probes to study other systems – the complex oxides interfaces. We started with two works that studied the unusual transport properties of these devices. These were followed by a full-fledged imaging experiments that use our newly developed, nanotube based, scanning single electron transistor to unravel the microscopic structure of these interfaces. Overall, the activity in this grant helped establishing the core direction in our lab, and contributed significantly to the knowledge and expertise of a large number of new students that started their graduate studies with the establishment of the lab.