Double-Gated Nanohelix as a Novel Tunable Binary Superlattice

Abstract

We theoretically investigate the problem of an electron confined to a nanohelix between two parallel gates modelled as charged wires. The double-gated nanohelix system is a binary superlattice with properties highly sensitive to the gate voltages. In particular, the band structure exhibits energy band crossings for certain combinations of gate voltages, which could lead to quasi-relativistic Dirac-like phenomena. Our analysis for optical transitions induced by linearly and circularly polarized light suggests that a double-gated nanohelix can be used for versatile optoelectronic applications.