Molecular dynamics study on the generation and propagation of heat signals in single-wall carbon nanotubes

Abstract

The generation and propagation of heat signals in single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. Controlled heat pulses are used in this work to excite heat wave packets which carry heat information. It is found that the propagation processes of excited wave packets significantly depend on the initial components of the heat pulses. The excited leading wave packets or heat signals keep their shapes and amplitudes during propagation and have robustness against vacancy defects, which indicates the stability of the heat information during the propagation. These results provide a realizable method of generating and modulating heat signals at the nanoscale.