The Quantum Gyroscop
In this project we suggest to study noncovalent interactions between single wall carbon nanotubes, between concentric multiwall carbon nanotubes and between the inside of the tubes and carbon cages or other molecules which will be established inside the cage. Such interactions were claimed to be rather strong on the one side since nanotubes are observed to aggrgate into bundles or very stable multiwall hoses. Transport experiments demonstrated on the other side a current flow only through the outermost walls of concentric tubes with hardly any intertube leaking.
Experiments will be carried out by light scattering spectroscopy in combination with analyses by scanning probe microscopy. Very special modes observable by the light scattering process allow to draw information on the tube-tube interaction and on the tube-cage interaction. Such modes have been observed sofar only in single wall carbon nanotubes but are expected to be also observable in multiwall tubes if the thickness of the tubes can be reduced to a small enough value. Tube-tube interactions in isomorphous double wall tubes of boron nitride are an other target of the proposed research work.
The project will be carried out in cooperation with research institutes in USA and in Germany from where special sample material will be provided. The results of the research work will provide new insight into macroscopic quantum phenomena in carbon nanotubes, in the possibilities to prepare material of individual single wall nanotubes and in the possibilities to use fullerene filled nanotubes for information storage.
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The Quantum Gyroscop
Sc2C2@C84 is a cluster-endohedral molecule. Experimental observations demonstrated a quantized rotation of the C2 molecule in a plane perpendicular to the rigid Sc-Sc axis. For a quantum state m ¡Ý 3 this rotation is free with a (classical) rotational frequency of
¦Ørotor = 1.02*1012 s-1 (for m=3), with the angular momentum
L = 3*(h/2*¦Ð) = 3.16*10-34 kgm2s-1
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If we attach the C84 cage on its surface to a linear molecule which allows for a free rotation around its axis (e.g. a poly-acetylene chain), the gravitational force m*g together with the radial distance r between the center of the cage and its surface creates a torque of
M = m*(g x r) = 1.22*10-32 Nm
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According to Newtons second law this torque changes the angular momentum of the cage system, resulting in a precession of the cage around the linear molecule. The precession frequency is
¦ØP = r*m*g/L = 58.3 s-1
