Electronic structure of the minimum-diameter Tl, Pb and Bi quantum wire superlattices

On the basis of the analysis of the optical absorption spectra and conductivity data the model of the electronic structure of the regular three-dimensional arrays of minimum-diameter (0.6 nm) quantum wires of Tl, Pb and Bi has been proposed. It is characterized by a dielectric type of energy spectrum, an atomic-like energy band structure near the gap, anisotropy of this spectrum and localization of the electronic states near the gap.