Abstract
The conductance of metallic contacts of atomic size has been studied using a scanning tunneling microscope at low temperature. As the contact area is changed by pressing the tip into the sample, a series of reproducible features and jumps in the conductance at integer multiples of 2/h is observed. The jumps are interpreted as atomic rearrangements, while the underlying conductance structure strongly suggests quantum-size effects.
- Received 18 February 1993
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.47.12345
©1993 American Physical Society