Nonlinear Properties of Carbon Nanotubes in a Strong Electric Field

Abstract : A theoretical model and computations of the I-V characteristics of both doped and undoped long carbon nanotubes in a strong axial dc-fields at room temperatures have been presented. Negative differential conductivity has been predicted. It has been shown that \dI/dV\ for metal carbon nanotubes in the region of the negative differential conductivity significantly exceeds corresponding values for semiconducting ones. The predicted effect makes possible the design of wave-generating nanotube-based diods for submillimeter and infrared ranges.