An ab initio description of cleaning of SWNT with UV light

The photodesorption of molecules and its application to the cleaning of single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) has been experimentally demonstrated using a 248 nm laser. The excitation of the carbon nanotube $\pi$-plasmon is thought to couple to vibrational modes of the molecule-nanotube bond. An \it{ab initio}\normalfont \ inquiry seeks to validate this hypothesis and optimize the process of nanotube cleaning. The response of SWNTs to an electric field, a description of the enhancement of surface plasmons, and the role of hot electrons are discussed.