Conductance of twisted carbon nanotubes

We have calculated conductance of armchair carbon nanotubes under lattice strain causing twisting deformation in the presence of impurities with interaction range larger than the lattice constant. Ballistic transport is realized without deformation, while the twisting deformation induces electron scattering due to the impurities so that the conductance is strongly suppressed showing Anderson localization. As a result, it is promising to control the electron conduction in metallic carbon nanotubes by external strain. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.