Quantum Tunnelling Demonstration using a Low-cost Experimental Setup

Author

Gonzalez, Camila A. ; Ruiz, J.P. ; Bonilla, Ruy S. ; Avila, A.G.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr. & Electron. Eng., Univ. de Los Andes, Bogota, Colombia

fYear

2013

fDate

15-16 Aug. 2013

Firstpage

78

Lastpage

85

Abstract

A simple and reliable experimental setup that illustrates one-dimensional quantum tunnelling effect is introduced. The main elements in this setup are the fabrication of sharp tips, and the sensing and approaching mechanism. A technique to fabricate very sharp tips is described, with tips made of 60 μm thick tungsten wire easily obtainable from car light bulbs. The technique produced tips with aspect ratios of 2 and tip diameter of 15 nm ±4.5 nm. A mechanical configuration to scale down semi-lineal displacement is suggested along with an experimental setup, including circuitry and measurement.

Keywords

nanosensors; physics education; quantum theory; scanning probe microscopy; student experiments; tungsten; tunnelling; W; approaching mechanism; aspect ratios; car light bulbs; low-cost experimental setup; mechanical configuration; one-dimensional quantum tunnelling effect; quantum tunnelling demonstration; scanning probe microscopes; semilineal displacement; sensing mechanism; sharp tips fabrication; size 60 mum; tip diameter; tungsten wire; Etching; Microscopy; Resonant tunneling devices; Tungsten; Wires; Microscopy; Tunneling effect; education; nanotechnology; physics; piezoelectric discs; piezoelectric transducers; tungsten tip;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Micro-Nanoelectronics, Technology and Applications (EAMTA), 2013 7th Argentine School of

Conference_Location

Buenos Aires

Type

conf

Filename

6621082