arXiv · cond-mat/0208540
Quantum Necking in Stressed Metallic Nanowires
Abstract
When a macroscopic metallic wire is subject to tensile stress, it necks down smoothly as it elongates. We show that nanowires with radii comparable to the Fermi wavelength display remarkably different behavior. Using concepts from fluid dynamics, a PDE for nanowire shape evolution is derived from a semiclassical energy functional that includes electron-shell effects. A rich dynamics involving movement and interaction of kinks connecting locally stable radii is found, and a new class of universal equilibrium shapes is predicted.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
Explore connections, maps & timelines
J. Burki, Raymond E. Goldstein, C. A. Stafford. 2003-07-14. Quantum Necking in Stressed Metallic Nanowires. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.91.254501
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.