Universal expression for localization length in metallic carbon nanotubes

Abstract

A universal expression of localization lengths for all metallic carbon nanotubes has been found. Our results indicate that all types of metallic nanotubes behave as molecular quantum wires, which can be explained by a new microscopic mechanism for it. We have shown that the micron-sized localization lengths in them stem from their unique density of states at Fermi level being in an inverse proportion to the tubular diameter.