Optical absorption by atomically doped carbon nanotubes under strong atom–field coupling

We analyze optical absorption by atomically doped carbon nanotubes with a special focus on the frequency range close to the atomic transition frequency. We derive the optical absorption line-shape function and, having analyzed particular achiral nanotubes of different diameters, predict the effect of absorption line splitting due to strong atom–vacuum–field coupling in small-diameter nanotubes.     

Gate-dependent magnetoresistance phenomena in carbon nanotubes

We report on the first experimental study of the magnetoresistance of double-walled carbon nanotubes under a magnetic field as large as 50 T. By varying the field orientation with respect to the tube axis, or by gate-mediated shifting the Fermi level position, evidence for unconventional magnetoresistance is presented and interpreted by means of theoretical calculations.     

Quantum entanglement in carbon nanotubes

With the surge of research in quantum information, the issue of producing entangled states has gained prominence. Here, we show that judiciously bringing together two systems of strongly interacting electrons with vastly differing ground states-the gapped BCS superconductor and the Luttinger liquid-can result in quantum entanglement. We propose three sets of measurements involving single-walled metallic carbon nanotubes which have been shown to exhibit Luttinger liquid physics, to test our claim and as nanoscience experiments of interest in and of themselves.     

Quantum transport in carbon nanotubes

A survey will be given on selected experiments showing evidence of quantum transport in carbon nanotubes. The phenomena involve electron confinement, single electron effects and Coulomb–Blockade, Kondo-physics, conductance quantisation, Aharonov–Bohm effect, phase breaking in ballistic transport, and magnetochiral anisotropy.     

Anomalous magnetotransport in chemically doped carbon nanotubes

We report on anomalous magnetotransport features in chemically doped, weakly disordered carbon nanotubes. Under the application of a magnetic field parallel to the tube axis, hole conduction is shown to be strongly affected by impurity scattering with short mean free path and negative magnetoresistance, strongly different from electron conduction with much longer mean free path and positive magnetoresistance behavior.     

Boron doped carbon nanotubes via ceramic catalysts

A facile metal catalyst free route to synthesize boron doped (0.6%–1.0%) carbon nanotubes via ceramic nanowires in which the formation of the nanowires (probably serving as templates), the carbon nanotubes and their doping all occur unanimously in the reaction, is presented.

     

Photoconductivity enhancement in alkali metal doped multiwall carbon nanotubes

Photoconductivity effects in pristine and alkali-metal (K, Li) doped multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were studied under xenon (100 mW) and also halogen (10 mW) light continues sources. To perform the measurements, the pristine and alkali doped CNTs were deposited into pores of a silver foam plate with nano-metric porosity by electrophoresis technique. The foam acted as a conducting frame for sweeping the photo-induced electrons to prevent rapid local electron–hole recombination in the CNTs. The radiation spectrum of the xenon source was similar to the Sun light spectrum and under normal ambient condition the photocurrents in the alkali doped samples were enhanced noticeably in comparison with the pristine CNTs. These results present a functional photoconductive performance of a heap of as-prepared alkali-metal doped CNTs that would be applicable as a light sensor without the necessity of separation between metallic and semiconducting CNTs (m- and s-CNTs).     

First principles study of Eu doped carbon nanotubes

The geometric and electronic structures of Eu doped single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have been studied using density functional theory. Three different doping configurations are considered. All of these configurations are stable upon relaxation, and Eu atom on the top of the inside hole site is the most favorable configuration for most nanotubes, except (3,3) CNT. The formation energies vary regularly with the same trend as in the Co and Fe doped cases. The electronic structures studies indicate that the charge transfer basically occurs between 5d6s of Eu and the antibonding orbital of the C6 ring of the SWCNT. Eu atom is monovalent for the exohedral and substitutional doping, and for the endohedral doping of large radius nanotubes; it is bivalent for endohedral doping of (3,3) tube. As the radius increases, the net charges on Eu atom steadily decrease for exohedral and endohedral doping. The magnetic moments of Eu atoms are preserved in all of the configurations, but they vary with the radius of nanotube and adsorbing sites.     

Size effect on doped single walled carbon nanotubes

Considering impurity doping in small sized carbon nanotubes of diameter around 0.4 nm, we have calculated the donor binding energy by increasing the dopant concentration through a screening function that includes the curvature effect. We could observe the sudden fall in donor binding energy and metallic behaviour of the smaller single walled carbon nanotubes around 10¹¹/cm² (0.0026%) of impurity concentration. This result is useful for nano electronic device application such as nano diodes and switches.     

Quantum dephasing in carbon nanotubes due to electron-phonon coupling

We report on the effect of electron-phonon coupling on quantum transport in carbon nanotubes. The vibrational atomic displacements as well as the electron-phonon coupling strength are introduced through a time-dependent perturbation of the pi-electron Hamiltonian. The effect of dephasing on the Kubo conductance is studied for metallic and semiconducting nanotubes, and from a phenomenological law, coherence length (time) scales are found to fluctuate within the range 10 to 150 nm (0.01 to 4 ps) depending on the energy of charge carriers and phonon amplitude.     

Quantum conductance steps in solutions of multiwalled carbon nanotubes

We have prepared solutions of multiwalled carbon nanotubes in Aroclor 1254, a mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls. The solutions are stable at room temperature. Transport measurements were performed using a scanning-tunneling probe on a sample prepared by spin coating the solution on gold substrates. Conductance steps were clearly seen. A histogram of a high number of traces shows maximum peaks at integer values of the conductance quantum G(0)=2e(2)/h, demonstrating ballistic transport at room temperature along the carbon nanotube over distances longer than 1.4 microm.     

Strain-induced changes in the band gap of doped carbon nanotubes

The results of a theoretical research into the band gap of strained doped carbon nanotubes of two structural modifications of the “armchair” and “zigzag” types are described. The electronic states in the doped nanotubes are considered in terms of the periodic Anderson model. Nitrogen and boron atoms are selected as donor and acceptor substitutional defects, respectively. The dependences of the band gap of the carbon nanotubes on impurity concentration and compressive and tensile strain are studied.     

Reciprocal space constraints create real-space anomalies in doped carbon nanotubes

When graphite is doped with electrons, carbon-carbon bonds lengthen and Raman-active phonons soften as antibonding states fill. However, in semiconducting carbon nanotubes, one Raman-active G-band mode increases in frequency at low doping levels. We show how phase constraints on the conduction-band wave function expose a latent bonding character in the conduction band of certain nanotubes. In these tubes, filling the lowest conduction band shortens the axial bonds even as it lengthens the circumferential bonds. The A{1}{LO} phonon, which preferentially stretches the axial bonds, then hardens even as the other phonons soften. Quantum confinement eliminates the angular averaging taken for granted in higher-dimensional systems and develops a new class of states, neither bonding nor antibonding, whose character depends on the angular orientation of the bonds in question.     

Quantum correlations in optics

In many nonlinear optical problems, for example in down-conversion and four-wave mixing, the photons are generated in pairs. The strong correlation between the photons in a pair, characterized by either the correlations between operators corresponding to observables associated with individual photons, or the correlated state describing the two photons, may lead to various nonclassicalities. We discuss some of these nonclassical effects and their experimental demonstrations in nonlinear optical processes     

Tubular composite of doped polyaniline with multi-walled carbon nanotubes

We report on the synthesis of tubular composite of doped polyaniline (PANI) with carboxylic groups contained multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNTs) by in situ polymerization. Based on the interaction between aniline monomers and c-MWNTs , aniline molecules were adsorbed and polymerized on the surface of c-MWNTs . The structural characterization showed that tubular composites are core (c-MWNTs )-shell (doped-PANI) structures with diameters of several tens of nanometers, and lengths of up to several hundreds of nanometers. The conductivities of these tubular composites are several times higher than that of PANI without MWNT, which will offer new application possibilities. PACS 81.05.Qk; 81.05.Tp     

Quantum gravitational optics

In quantum theory, the curved spacetime of Einstein's general theory of relativity acts as a dispersive optical medium for the propagation of light. Gravitational rainbows and birefringence replace the classical picture of light rays mapping out the null geodesics of curved spacetime. Even more remarkably, superluminal propagation becomes a real possibility, raising the question of whether it is possible to send signals into the past. In this article, we review recent developments in the quantum theory of light propagation in general relativity and discuss whether superluminal light is compatible with causality.