Enhanced atomic localization via surface plasmons at the interface of sodium and multi-walled carbon nanotubes

¹ Physics, University of Malakand - Chakdara, Dir Lower, KP 18300, Pakistan
² School of Electronic and Optical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology - 200 Xiaolingwei, Nanjing 210094, Jiangsu, China
³ Research Center, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Marwadi University - Rajkot 360003, Gujarat, India
⁴ Department of Physics and Electronics, JAIN (Deemed to be University) - Bangalore, Karnataka, India
⁵ Centre for Research Impact & Outcome, Chitkara University Institute of Engineering and Technology, Chitkara University - Rajpura 140401, Punjab, India
⁶ Chandigarh Engineering College, Chandigarh Group of Colleges-Jhanjeri - Mohali 140307, Punjab, India
⁷ Raghu Engineering College - Visakhapatnam 531162, Andhra Pradesh, India
⁸ Chitkara Centre for Research and Development, Chitkara University - Baddi 174103, Himachal Pradesh, India
⁹ Department of Biochemistry, College of Sciences, King Saud University - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Received: 10 January 2025
Accepted: 11 March 2025

Abstract

Two-dimensional atomic microscopy is governed by the dispersion relation of surface plasmon polariton (SPP) waves at the interface between sodium metal and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The absorption or damping spectrum of these SPP waves encodes critical information about atomic localization. In accordance with Heisenberg microscopy, atoms can be localized with a resolution of along any spatial axis (x, y, or z). In this study, we tune the dispersion relation of SPPs by adjusting control fields and the parameters of MWCNTs. By adjusting these parameters, we achieve control over the number and positioning of single, double, and multiple localized peaks within a single wavelength domain in the damping spectrum of SPPs on a two-dimensional plane. Notably, we demonstrate atomic localization at scales significantly smaller than , with peak widths reduced to below along both x- and y-axes. Furthermore, we manipulate the shape and arrangement of localization peaks, achieving loop-like, wall-like, crater-like, and Gaussian profiles. These advancements have potential applications in high-precision atomic position measurement, nano-lithography, and Bose-Einstein condensation.