Nanoscience

The study has been published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.

In their experiment the researchers used a carbon nanotube that was mounted between two metal electrodes, spanned a distance of about 1 µm, and could vibrate mechanically. Then, they applied an organic molecule with a magnetic spin due to an incorporated metal atom. This spin was oriented in an external magnetic field.

“In this setup, we demonstrated that the vibrations of the tube are influenced directly when the spin flips parallel or antiparallel to the magnetic field,” explains Mario Ruben, head of the working group at KIT. When the spin changes, the resulting recoil is transferred to the carbon nanotube and the latter starts to vibrate. Vibration changes the atomic distances of the tube and, hence, its conductance that is used as a measure of motion.

The strong interaction between a magnetic spin and mechanical vibration opens up interesting applications apart from determining the states of motion of the carbon nanotube. It is proposed to determine the masses of individual molecules and to measure magnetic forces within the nano-regime. Use as a quantum bit in a quantum computer might also be feasible.

According to the supplementary information published in the same issue of nature nanotechnology such interactions are of high importance in the quantum world, i.e. in the range of discrete energies and tunnel effects, for the future use of nanoscopic effects in macroscopic applications. Combination of spin, vibration, and rotation on the nanoscale in particular may result in entirely new applications and technologies.

Story Source:

The above post is reprinted from materials provided by Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

Journal Reference:

1. Marc Ganzhorn, Svetlana Klyatskaya, Mario Ruben, Wolfgang Wernsdorfer. Strong spin–phonon coupling between a single-molecule magnet and a carbon nanotube nanoelectromechanical system. Nature Nanotechnology, 2013; 8 (3): 165 DOI:10.1038/nnano.2012.258

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. (2013, March 15). Smallest vibration sensor in the quantum world. ScienceDaily. Retrieved October 12, 2015 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130315095919.htm