Theory of metastability in simple metal nanowires -: art. no. 090601

被引:31
作者
Bürki, J [1 ]
Stafford, CA [1 ]
Stein, DL [1 ]
机构
[1] Univ Arizona, Dept Phys, Tucson, AZ 85721 USA
关键词
D O I
10.1103/PhysRevLett.95.090601
中图分类号
O4 [物理学];
学科分类号
0702 ;
摘要
Thermally induced conductance jumps of metal nanowires are modeled using stochastic Ginzburg-Landau field theories. Changes in radius are predicted to occur via the nucleation of surface kinks at the wire ends, consistent with recent electron microscopy studies. The activation rate displays nontrivial dependence on nanowire length, and undergoes first- or second-order-like transitions as a function of length. The activation barriers of the most stable structures are predicted to be universal, i.e., independent of the radius of the wire, and proportional to the square root of the surface tension. The reduction of the activation barrier under strain is also determined.
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页数:4
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