Scattering and conductance quantization in three-dimensional metal nanocontacts

Mads Brandbyge, Karsten W. Jacobsen, and Jens K. Nørskov
Phys. Rev. B 55, 2637 – Published 15 January 1997
PDFExport Citation

Abstract

The transmission through three-dimenstional nanocontacts is calculated in the presence of localized scattering centers and boundary scattering using a coupled-channel recursion method. Simple confining potentials are used to investigate how robust the observation of quantized conductance is with respect to the scattering. We find that the quantum features are quite stable: the scattering by a localized scatterer will selectively smear and downshift certain quantum steps depending on the position of the scatterer, but the remaining steps will still be at integer positions. The effect of scattering by surface corrugation depends on the length scale of the corrugation. In some cases a significant downshift of the steps without accompanying smearing is observed. In general, we find that even in the cases where scattering shifts the quantum steps the quantization of the motion perpendicular to the contacts remains intact. Non-integer steps can therefore also be a signature of quantized conductance.

    DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.55.2637

    ©1997 American Physical Society

    Authors & Affiliations

    Mads Brandbyge

    • CAMP, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark

    Karsten W. Jacobsen

    • CAMP, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark,
    • and Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853

    Jens K. Nørskov

    • CAMP, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark

    References (Subscription Required)

    Click to Expand
    Issue

    Vol. 55, Iss. 4 — 15 January 1997

    Reuse & Permissions
    Access Options
    Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

    Authorization Required


    ×
    ×

    Images

    ×

    Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review B

    Log In

    Cancel
    ×

    Search


    Article Lookup

    Paste a citation or DOI

    Enter a citation
    ×