Conductance of Atom-Sized Zn Contacts

概要

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We have produced atom-sized Zn contacts and measured their high-bias conductance at room temperature. Contrary to previous experiments at and below 4.2 K, no $0.8G_{0}$ single-atom peak is observed in our conductance histograms. This result suggests that Zn single-atom contacts are too unstable at room temperature to produce a well defined peak in conductance histograms. We have also investigated the break conductance of Zn nanocontacts and showed that ther current-induced break of such nanocontacts exhibits the same characteristics as those observed on nanocontacts of other metals. Assuming the Sharvin conductance for Zn nanocontacts, the critical current density $ j_{\text{c}}$, at which Zn nanocontacts rupture with a maximum likelihood, is estimated to be $ j_{\text{c}}\sim 2.8\times 10^{10}$ A/cm2. Comparing this $ j_{\text{c}}$ with those of other metals shows a linear correlation between $ j_{\text{c}}$ and the melting point of metals.
2006-09-15