Nanoelectromechanical rotary current rectifier

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Christopher W. Wächtler - , Max-Planck-Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems (Author)
  • Alan Celestino - , Max-Planck-Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems (Author)
  • Alexander Croy - , Chair of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials Dresden (Author)
  • Alexander Eisfeld - , Max-Planck-Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems (Author)

Abstract

Nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) are devices integrating electrical and mechanical functionality on the nanoscale. Because of individual electron tunneling, such systems can show rich self-induced, highly nonlinear dynamics. We show theoretically that rotor shuttles, fundamental NEMS without intrinsic frequencies, are able to rectify an oscillatory bias voltage over a wide range of external parameters in a highly controlled manner, even if subject to the stochastic nature of electron tunneling and thermal noise. Supplemented by a simple analytic model, we identify different operational modes of charge rectification. Intriguingly, the direction of the current depends sensitively on the external parameters.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article numberL032020
JournalPhysical Review Research
Volume3
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2021
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas