Absorption of BN nanotubes under the influence of a perpendicular electric field

We calculate the optical absorption spectra of prototype (6,6) and (9,9) BN nanotubes in the presence of a perpendicular electric field. This model mimics a gated BN nanotube device. Even though the band-gap of the tubes decreases strongly as a function of the electric field strength, the absorption spectrum of the pure tubes remains remarkably constant up to high field-strength. We show that, in contrast, the levels which are responsible for defect-mediated photo-luminescence are shifted by the electric field. We address the use of BN nanotubes for optoelectronic applications. 0 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.