Field-Ion Microscopy of Quantum Oscillations of Linear Carbon Atomic Chains

Abstract

Field ion microscopic imaging of monatomic carbon chains near the ground quantum states and the visualization of their two-dimensional wave functions were demonstrated. Quantum motions with the frequency proportional to the electric field are detected and analyzed with subangstrom lateral resolution. Electric fields above 10(10) V/m can be used for control of a transverse vibration mode of atomic chains in the terahertz spectral range.