Quasi-One-Dimensional Electronic States Inside and Outside Helium-Plated Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract

About one-half a century ago, it was realized that electrons experience a repulsive barrier when approaching the surface of condensed phases of helium, hydrogen, and neon. This led to the proposal and subsequent observation of image-potential surface-bound electronic states, which exhibit intriguing quasi-two-dimensional behavior. In the present work, we report similar quasi-one-dimensional electronic states by exploring single-wall carbon nanotubes coated both inside and outside by thin helium films. Electrons near such structures are localized in the radial direction, but free to move along the nanotube axis. The many-body aspects of the system are discussed qualitatively.