NANOWIRE FORMATION IN MACROSCOPIC METALLIC CONTACTS - QUANTUM-MECHANICAL CONDUCTANCE TAPPING A TABLE TOP

In this letter we show that quantum mechanical conductance is observed in nanowires formed by placing two wires of macroscopic dimensions in contact, making them vibrate so they gel in and out of contact, and m easuring the conductance response of such a system with an oscilloscop e. We do this by tapping the table top on which the loose contact form ed by the macroscopic wires is placed. The formation of these nanowire s and the associated quantized conductance is a universal phenomenon t hat occurs when any two metals get in and out of contact independently of the metal sizes. This should have strong technological implication s in studying contact formation, friction, tribology, forming and brea king bonds, mechanics, etc., at the nanoscopic level. Results and simp le specifications needed for the formation of nanowires are presented for Au, Cu, Pt and metallic glass wires.