Conductance oscillations in squashed carbon nanotubes

We report measurements on the radial electromechanical properties of single walled carbon nanotubes. By measuring the conductance of the nanotube, we show that a gap is opened while squashing the nanotubes and that during the deformation stages we observe at least two open-close cycles of the gap. We employ a novel experimental setup where an atomic force microscope tip is used both as an electrode and to induce radial deformations. In contrast with prior experiments reported, this technique allows direct probing of the local electronic structure of carbon nanotubes as they are radially deformed.