Nanotube diameter optimal for channeling of high-energy particle beam

Channeling of particle beam in straight and bent single-wall nanotubes has been studied in computer simulations. We have found that the nanotubes should be sufficiently narrow in order to steer efficiently the particle beams, with preferred diameter in the order of 0.5-2 nm. Wider nanotubes, e.g., 10-50 nm, appear rather useless for channeling purpose because of high sensitivity of channeling to nanotube curvature. We have compared bent nanotubes with bent crystals as elements of beam steering technique, and found that narrow nanotubes have an efficiency of beam bending similar to that of crystals. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.