We describe dynamics of spin and valley transitions driven by alternating electric fields in quantum dots defined electrostatically within semiconducting carbon nanotubes (CNT). We use the tight-binding approach to describe the states localized within a quantum dot taking into account the circumferential spin-orbit interaction due to the s-p hybridization and external fields. The basis of eigenstates localized in the quantum dot is used in the solution of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation for description of spin flips and intervalley transitions that are driven by periodic perturbation in the presence of coupling between the spin, valley, and orbital degrees of freedom. Aside from the first-order transitions, we find also fractional resonances. We discuss the transition rates with selection rules that are lifted by atomic disorder and the bend of the tube. We demonstrate that the electric field component perpendicular to the axis of the CNT activates spin transitions which are otherwise absent and that the resonant spin-flip time scales with the inverse of the electric field.

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We provide a theoretical study of the conductance response of systems based on graphene nanoribbon to the potential of a scanning probe. The study is based on the Landauer approach for the tight-binding Hamiltonian with an implementation of the quantum transmitting boundary method and covers homogenous nanoribbons, their asymmetric narrowing and quantum point contacts of various profiles. The response maps at low Fermi energies resolve formation of n-p junctions induced by the probe potential and a presence of zigzag-armchair segments of the edges for inhomogeneous ribbons. For an asymmetric narrowing of the nanoribbons the scanning probe resolves formation of standing waves related to backscattering within the highest subband of the narrower part of the system. The QPCs containing a long constriction support formation of localized resonances which induce a system of conductance peaks that is reentrant in the Fermi energy, with the form of the probability density that can be resolved by the conductance mapping. For shorter constrictions the probe induces smooth conductance minima within the constrictions. In general, besides the low-energy transport gap, in the wider parts of the ribbon the variation of the conductance of the system is low compared to the narrower part.

We consider charge transport across a finite graphene flake with a circular antidot defined in its center. The flake is connected to thin metallic armchair nanoribbons and the study covers the energy range within the neighborhood of the neutrality point. We solve the scattering problem using the tight-binding Hamiltonian and find that conductance of the system is non-zero only near narrow resonances which are quasi-bound in either the entire cavity or the antidot itself. We demonstrate that the scanning probe technique can be used for the purpose of determination whether the state is localized within the antidot or in the entire cavity. We indicate that the potential of the perturbation shifts the position of the resonances and that the shifts are related to the localization of the scattering probability density. The resonance lifetime can be both decreased or increased as the perturbation introduced by the probe interferes with the current vortices inside the antidot.

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