Spin-Charge Separation in Finite Length Metallic Carbon Nanotubes

Yongyou Zhang, Qingyun Zhang, Udo Schwingenschlögl

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Using time-dependent density functional theory, we study the optical excitations in finite length carbon nanotubes. Evidence of spin-charge separation is given in the spacetime domain. We demonstrate that the charge density wave is due to collective excitations of electron singlets, while the accompanying spin density wave is due to those of electron triplets. The Tomonaga–Luttinger liquid parameter and density–density interaction are extrapolated from the first-principles excitation energies. We show that the density–density interaction increases with the length of the nanotube. The singlet and triplet excitation energies, on the other hand, decrease for increasing length of the nanotube. Their ratio is used to establish a first-principles approach for deriving the Tomonaga–Luttinger parameter (in excellent agreement with experimental data). Time evolution analysis of the charge and spin line densities evidences that the charge and spin density waves are elementary excitations of metallic carbon nanotubes. Their dynamics show no dependence on each other.
Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)6747-6751
Number of pages5
JournalNano Letters
Volume17
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 17 2017

Bibliographical note

KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2020-10-01
Acknowledgements: The research reported in this publication was supported by funding from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). It was also supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC grant no. 11304015).

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