Single-atom transistor: Difference between revisions

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A Single-Atom Transistor is a device that allows to open and close an electrical circuit by the controlled and reversible repositioning of one single atom. The Single-Atom Transistor was invented and first demonstrated in 2004 by Prof. Thomas Schimmel and his team of scientists at the [[Karlsruhe Institute of Technology]] (former University of Karlsruhe).<ref> F.-Q. Xie, L. Nittler, Ch. Obermair, Th. Schimmel, Phys. Rev. Lett.93, 128303 (2004)</ref> By means of a small electrical voltage applied to a control electrode, the so-called Gate electrode, a single atom is reversibly moved in and out of a tiny junction, in this way closing and opening an electrical contact.

A single-atom transistor is a device which allows one to open and close an electronic circuit by the controlled

and reproducible repositioning of one single atom. It is invented in Karlsruhe (Germany) at the [[Karlsruhe Institute of Technology]] (KIT).<ref> F.-Q. Xie, L. Nittler, Ch. Obermair, Th. Schimmel, Phys. Rev. Lett.93, 128303 (2004)</ref> <ref>F.-Q. Xie, Ch. Obermair and Th. Schimmel, Solid State Communications 132, 437 (2004)</ref> <ref> F.-Q. Xie, R. Maul, A. Augenstein, Ch. Obermair, E.B. Starikov, G. Schön, Th. Schimmel, W. Wenzel, Nano Lett. 8 (12),4493 (2008)</ref> <ref> F.-Q. Xie, R. Maul, Ch. Obermair, G. Schön, W. Wenzel, Th. Schimmel, Advanced Materials 22, 2033 (2010)</ref> <ref> Ch. Obermair, F.-Q. Xie, Th. Schimmel, Europhysics News 41/4, 25-28 (2010)</ref>

andTherefore, reproduciblethe repositioningSingle-Atom ofTransistor oneworks singleas atom.an Itatomic isswitch inventedor inatomic Karlsruhe (Germany)relais, atwhere the [[Karlsruheswitchable Instituteatom ofopens Technology]]and (KIT).<ref>closes F.-Q.the Xie,gap L.between Nittler,two Ch.tiny Obermair,electrodes Th.called Schimmel,Source Phys.and RevDrain. Lett.93, 128303 (2004)</ref> <ref>F.-Q. Xie, Ch. Obermair and Th. Schimmel, Solid State Communications 132, 437 (2004)</ref> <ref> F.-Q. Xie, R. Maul, A. Augenstein, Ch. Obermair, E.B. Starikov, G. Schön, Th. Schimmel, W. Wenzel, Nano Lett. 8 (12),4493 (2008)</ref> <ref> F.-Q. Xie, R. Maul, Ch. Obermair, GF. Schön, W-Q. WenzelXie, Th. Schimmel, AdvancedEurophysics MaterialsNews 2241/4, 203325-28 (2010)</ref> <ref>The Ch.Single-Atom Obermair,Transistor F.-Q.opens Xie,perspectives Th.for Schimmel,the Europhysicsdevelopment Newsof 41/4,future 25atomic-28scale (2010)</ref>logics and quantum electronics.

At the same time, the device of the Karlsruhe team of researchers marks the lower limit of minaturization, as feature sizes smaller than one atom cannot be produced lithographically. The device represents a quantum transistor, the conductance of the Source-Drain channel being defined by the rules of quantum mechanics. It can be operated at room temperature and at ambient conditions, i.e. neither cooling nor vacuum are required. <ref> F.-Q. Xie, R. Maul, Ch. Obermair, G. Schön, W. Wenzel, Th. Schimmel, Advanced Materials 22, 2033 (2010)</ref>

== References ==