Molecular spectrometer using point tunneling

Abstract

Abstract A MOLECULAR SPECTROMETER OR SPECTROSCOPE IS DESCRIBED BASED ON THE INTERACTION OF TUNNELING ELECTRONS WITH ENERGY STATES OF MOLECULES INCLUDED AT A METAL-SEMICONDUCTOR INTERFACE. MOLECULAR ROTATIONAL LEVELS OF SAMPLE SUBSTANCES ARE OBSERVED BY MEANS OF A SIMPLE BULK TUNNELING DEVICE WHEREIN THE SCHOTTKY BARRIER LAYER OF A SEMICONDUCTOR IS EMPLLOYED AS PART OF A TUNNELING DIODE COMPRISING A SEMICONDUCTOR PROBE CONTACTING A METAL ELECTRODE. A PARTICULARLY PRACTICAL BARRIER EFFECT IS CREATED BY DOPING A SEMICONDUCTOR SO THAT IT HAS A LOW CONDUCTANCE AT ITS SURFACE SO AS TO PROVIDE A HIGH NUMBER OF TUNNELING ELECTRONS AT LOW VOLTAGES. BECAUSE THE BARRIER IS CREATED TO BE AN INTRINSIC PROPERTY OF THE PROBE, THE ULTIMATE SPECTROMETER UNIT USING SUCH PROBE HAS A LONG LIFE, AND IS CAPABLE OF BEING USED INDEFINITELY IN MOLECULAR SPECTROMETRY DEVICES RELYING UPON TUNNELING OF ELECTRONS THROUGH A BARRIER LAYER.

Inventors

• 👤 William A Thompson

Bibliographic Details