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Electron Turbulence at Nanoscale Junctions

Journal Article · · Nano Letters
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/nl070935e· OSTI ID:1512886
 [1];  [2];  [1]
  1. Univ. of California, San Diego, CA (United States)
  2. College of Wooster, Wooster, OH (United States)
+ Show Author Affiliations

Electron transport through a nanostructure can be characterized in part using concepts from classical fluid dynamics. Hence, it is natural to ask how far the analogy can be taken and whether the electron liquid can exhibit nonlinear dynamical effects such as turbulence. Here we present an ab initio study of the electron dynamics in nanojunctions which reveals that the latter indeed exhibits behavior quite similar to that of a classical fluid. In particular, we find that a transition from laminar to turbulent flow occurs with increasing current, corresponding to increasing Reynolds numbers. These findings reveal unexpected features of electron dynamics and shed new light on our understanding of transport properties of nanoscale systems.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
OSTI ID:
1512886
Report Number(s):
SAND2015--6062J; 667153
Journal Information:
Nano Letters, Journal Name: Nano Letters Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 7; ISSN 1530-6984
Publisher:
American Chemical SocietyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Cited By (2)

Communication: Gibbs phenomenon and the emergence of the steady-state in quantum transport journal December 2018
Transport phenomena in nanofluidics journal July 2008

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