Field-ion microscopy of quantum oscillations of linear carbon atomic chains

Nano Lett. 2009 Feb;9(2):774-8. doi: 10.1021/nl803399j.

Abstract

Field ion microscopic imaging of monatomic carbon chains near the ground quantum states and the visualization of their two-dimensional wave functions were demonstrated. Quantum motions with the frequency proportional to the electric field are detected and analyzed with subangstrom lateral resolution. Electric fields above 10(10) V/m can be used for control of a transverse vibration mode of atomic chains in the terahertz spectral range.