Luttinger-liquid-like transport in long InSb nanowires

Long nanowires of degenerate semiconductor InSb in asbestos matrix (wire di ameter about 50 Angstrom, length 0.1-1 mm) have been prepared. The electric al conduction of these nanowires has been studied over a temperature range 1.5-350 K. The zero-field electrical conductance is a power function of tem perature G alpha T-alpha with a typical exponent alpha approximate to 4. Cu rrent-voltage characteristics of such nanowires are nonlinear and, at suffi ciently low temperatures, follow the power law I alpha V-beta. The electric al conduction of the nanowires cannot be accounted for in terms of ordinary single-electron theories and exhibits features expected for impure Lutting er liquid (LL). For the simple approximation of an impure LL as a pure liqu id broken into drops by weak links, the estimated weak-link density is arou nd 10(3)-10(4) cm(-1).