Quantum Interference Effects in the Nanotriode

摘要

The current-voltage characteristics of a vacuum nanoelectronic device, the Nanotriode, are presented. Electrons are field emitted from metal nanopillars with radii of about 1nm into a vacuum chamber, collected at the integrated anode and controlled by the gate electrode. The turn-on voltage for field emission from the metallic nanopillar emitters is typically 8V, independent of ambient temperature. Time-independent fluctuations that persist down to 20K are observed in the current-voltage characteristics. Analysis suggests that the origin of this structure is a quantum interference effect between the electron wave function in the tip of the nanopillar and the anode.