Theory of electronic states and transport in carbon nanotubes

Abstract

A brief review is given of electronic and transport properties of carbon nanotubes obtained mainly in a k·p scheme. The topics include a giant Aharonov-Bohm effect on the band gap and a Landau-level formation in magnetic fields, magnetic properties, interaction effects on the band structure, optical absorption spectra, and exciton effects. Transport properties are also discussed including absence of backward scattering except for scatterers with a potential range smaller than the lattice constant, its extension to multi-channel cases, a conductance quantization in the presence of short-range and strong scatterers such as lattice vacancies, and transport across junctions between nanotubes with different diameters. A continuum model for phonons in the long-wavelength limit and the resistivity determined by phonon scattering are reviewed as well. ©2005 The Physical Society of Japan.