Quantum Fluids in Nanotubes: a Quantum Monte Carlo Approach

Abstract

We review quantum Monte Carlo results on energetic and structure properties of quantum fluids adsorbed in a bundle of carbon nanotubes. Using realistic interatomic interactions the different adsorption sites that a bundle offer are accurately studied and compared in some cases with strictly one-dimensional geometries. The study is performed quite extensively for $^4$He and restricted to the inner part of a single nanotube for H$_2$ and D$_2$. From a theoretical point of view, nanotubes open the real possibility of a quasi-one-dimensional confinement where to study quantum fluids in extremely reduced dimensionality. The results obtained show that in the narrowest configurations the system is nearly one-dimensional reinforcing the interest on the physics of one-dimensional quantum fluids. Experimental confirmation of the theoretical results obtained is still not in a satisfactory situation due to the difficulties on extracting from the data the dominant adsorption sites.