Spectroscopic Measurements of Discrete Electronic States in Single Metal Particles

D. C. Ralph, C. T. Black, and M. Tinkham
Phys. Rev. Lett. 74, 3241 – Published 17 April 1995
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Abstract

We have made tunnel junctions containing one Al particle of diameter <10 nm. Tunneling via discrete electronic states in the particle produces steps in the current-voltage ( I- V) curve, providing, for the first time, a spectroscopic measurement of the electronic energy levels in a metal particle. With superconducting leads, the I- V contribution from each discrete state has the form of the BCS density of states. We can determine the parity of the electron number in the particle's ground state through the effects of an applied magnetic field on the I- V curve.

  • Received 21 November 1994

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.74.3241

©1995 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

D. C. Ralph, C. T. Black, and M. Tinkham

  • Department of Physics and Division of Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138

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Vol. 74, Iss. 16 — 17 April 1995

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