Performance of field-emitting resonating carbon nanotubes as radio-frequency demodulators

P. Vincent (1) , P. Poncharal (1) , T. Barois (1) , S. Perisanu (1) , V. Gouttenoire (1) , H. Frachon (1) , Arnaud Lazarus (2) , Emmanuel de Langre (2) , E. Minoux (3) , M. Charles (3) , A. Ziaei (3) , D. Guillot (1) , M. Choueib (1) , A. Ayari (1) , S.T. Purcell (1)

1 LPMCN - Laboratoire de Physique de la Matière Condensée et Nanostructures
2 LadHyX - Laboratoire d'hydrodynamique
3 Thales Research & Technology

We report on a systematic study of the use of resonating nanotubes in a field emission (FE) configuration to demodulate radio frequency signals. We particularly concentrate on how the demodulation depends on the variation of the field amplification factor during resonance. Analytical formulas describing the demodulation are derived as functions of the system parameters. Experiments using AM and FM demodulations in a transmission electron microscope are also presented with a determination of all the pertinent experimental parameters. Finally we discuss the use of CNTs undergoing FE as nanoantennae and the different geometries that could be used for optimization and implementation. © 2011 American Physical Society.

Domains: Physics [physics]; Mechanics [physics]; Fluid mechanics [physics.class-ph]; Engineering Sciences [physics]; Mechanics [physics.med-ph]; Fluids mechanics [physics.class-ph]

P. Vincent, P. Poncharal, T. Barois, S. Perisanu, V. Gouttenoire, et al.. Performance of field-emitting resonating carbon nanotubes as radio-frequency demodulators. Physical Review B: Condensed Matter and Materials Physics (1998-2015), 2011, 83 (15), pp.155446. ⟨10.1103/physrevb.83.155446⟩. ⟨hal-00997993⟩