Electromigrated nanogaps
Encyclopedia
Electromigrated Nanogaps are gaps formed in metallic bridges formed by the process of electromigration
.
acts like a waveguide for electrons. The nanocontact essentially acts like a one-dimensional wire with a conductance of
. The current in a wire is the velocity of the electrons multiplied by th charge and number per unit length, 
or 
. This gives a conductance of 
. In nano scale bridges the conductance falls discrete steps of multiples of the quantum conductance 
.
Electromigration
Electromigration is the transport of material caused by the gradual movement of the ions in a conductor due to the momentum transfer between conducting electrons and diffusing metal atoms. The effect is important in applications where high direct current densities are used, such as in...
.
Theory
A nanosized contact formed formed by electromigrationElectromigration
Electromigration is the transport of material caused by the gradual movement of the ions in a conductor due to the momentum transfer between conducting electrons and diffusing metal atoms. The effect is important in applications where high direct current densities are used, such as in...
acts like a waveguide for electrons. The nanocontact essentially acts like a one-dimensional wire with a conductance of
. The current in a wire is the velocity of the electrons multiplied by th charge and number per unit length, or . This gives a conductance of . In nano scale bridges the conductance falls discrete steps of multiples of the quantum conductance .Uses
- Electromigrated Nanogaps have shown great promise as electrodes in use in molecular scale electronics.
- Researcher have used feedback controlled electromigrationFeedback controlled electromigrationFeedback controlled electromigration is an experimental technique to investigate the phenomenon known as electromigration. By controlling the voltage applied as the conductance varies it is possible to keep the voltage at a critical level for electromigration.-Theory:FCE has been shown to be...
to investigate the magnetoresistanceMagnetoresistanceMagnetoresistance is the property of a material to change the value of its electrical resistance when an external magnetic field is applied to it. The effect was first discovered by William Thomson in 1856, but he was unable to lower the electrical resistance of anything by more than 5%. This...
of a quantum spin valve.