Condensed Matter Seminar Series
Shell Effects, Stability and Surface Dynamics of Metal
Nanowires
Dr. Chang-hua Zhang,
University
of Arizona
Thursday March 11, 11:00 am, Room 234, Physics Building
Host: Harold Baranger
Abstract: A linear stability
analysis has been performed for metal nanowires based on the Jellium
electron model. By considering the electron shell effect, we have shown
that metal nanowires with "magic" radius are very stable at high
temperature and voltage. By calculating the surface oscillation and
diffusion, we predict that the surfaces are smooth for stable wires
while showing critical behavior at stability boundaries. The unstable
wires neck down to stable ones instead of breaking down.
.