How do Quantum Effects Influence Electrical Properties?
At the nanoscale, electrons exhibit wave-like properties, and their behavior is influenced by quantum effects such as tunneling and quantized conductance. Quantum tunneling allows particles to pass through energy barriers that would be insurmountable in classical physics. This principle is exploited in devices like tunnel diodes and flash memory. Quantized conductance, on the other hand, implies that the conductance occurs in discrete steps, which is critical for the operation of single-electron transistors.