Electrostatics of straight and bent nanotubes

Abstract

Response of a single-walled carbon nanotube to external electric field, F, is calculated analytically within the classical electrostatics. Field-induced charge density distribution is approximately linear along the axis of metallic nanotube and depends rather weakly, as ln(h/r), on the nanotube length, h, (here r is the nanotube radius). In a semiconducting nanotube with a gap, E_g, charge separation occurs as F exceeds the threshold value F_{th}=E_g/eh. For F>F_{th}, positively and negatively charged regions at the ends of nanotube are separated by a neutral strip in the middle. For bent nanotubes the number of neutral strips can be one or two depending on the direction of F.