Shuttle Mechanism for Charge Transfer in Coulomb Blockade Nanostructures

L. Y. Gorelik, A. Isacsson, M. V. Voinova, B. Kasemo, R. I. Shekhter, and M. Jonson
Phys. Rev. Lett. 80, 4526 – Published 18 May 1998
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Abstract

Room-temperature Coulomb blockade of charge transport through composite nanostructures containing organic interlinks has recently been observed. A pronounced charging effect in combination with the softness of the molecular links implies that charge transfer gives rise to a significant deformation of these structures. For a simple model system, we show that self-excitation of periodic cluster oscillations in conjunction with sequential processes of cluster charging and decharging appears for a sufficiently large bias voltage. This new “electron shuttle” mechanism of discrete charge transfer gives rise to a current through the nanostructure which is proportional to the cluster vibration frequency.

  • Received 23 October 1997

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.80.4526

©1998 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

L. Y. Gorelik1,2, A. Isacsson1, M. V. Voinova1,3, B. Kasemo1, R. I. Shekhter1, and M. Jonson1

  • 1Department of Applied Physics, Chalmers University of Technology and Göteborg University, S-412 96 Göteborg, Sweden
  • 2B. Verkin Institute for Low Temperature Physics and Engineering, 310164 Kharkov, Ukraine
  • 3Kharkov State University, 310077 Kharkov, Ukraine

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Vol. 80, Iss. 20 — 18 May 1998

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