Optical and Transport Studies of Tunneling Through Molecules

技术摘要：利用光与微观隧道结的倏逝波耦合来研究单分子输运。主要的实验工具将是带光学通道的扫描隧道显微镜。还将研究其他隧道掘进技术。要研究的分子膜的范围从简单分子如苯到带有发色团的大分子。非技术摘要：分子材料被认为在电子和光电器件中具有潜在的价值。目前对分子内单分子水平的电子传导途径，以及电流通过金属接触进入和离开分子的机制还没有足够的了解。我们建议用光脉冲探测微观器件中的合适分子，这些分子可以与传导路径上的电流相互作用，从而获得对这些过程的理解。

Abstract Technical abstract: Single-molecule transport will be studied using evanescent-wave coupling of light to microscopic tunnel junctions. The primary experimental tool will be a scanning tunneling microscope with optical access. Alternative tunneling techniques will also be investigated. Molecular films to be studied will range from simple molecules such as benzene to larger molecules with chromophores. Non-technical abstract: Molecular materials are viewed as potentially valuable in electronic and opto-electronic devices. There is currently no adequate understanding of the electronic conduction pathways within molecules at the single molecule level, or of the mechanism by which current can enter and leave molecules through metal contacts. We propose to gain understanding of these processes by probing suitable molecules in microscopic devices with light pulses which can interact with current carried on the conduction paths.