Quantised conductance refers to the phenomenon in which the electrical conductance of a material is limited to discrete, quantised values. This occurs when the material is confined to a small enough size or when the temperature is low enough so that only certain energy levels are available for the movement of electrons.
Quantised conductance can be measured by using a device called a quantum point contact, which is a narrow channel that allows electrons to flow through. The conductance is measured by applying a voltage across the channel and measuring the resulting current. The conductance is then calculated by dividing the current by the applied voltage.
Quantised conductance is significant because it provides a fundamental understanding of the electronic properties of materials at the nanoscale. It also has practical applications in the development of nanoelectronic devices such as transistors and sensors.
The relationship between quantised conductance and quantum mechanics is that the quantisation of conductance is a result of the wave-like nature of electrons, which is a fundamental concept in quantum mechanics. The quantised values of conductance correspond to specific energy levels that electrons can occupy within the material.
Yes, there are several real-world examples of quantised conductance. One notable example is the quantum Hall effect, which occurs in 2D electron systems under a strong magnetic field. Another example is the conductance of carbon nanotubes, which is quantised due to their unique structure and size.
