An apparatus for synthesizing a single-wall carbon nanotube array, includes a reactor, a local heating device, a gaseous carbon supplier, and a reactant gas supplier. The reactor includes a reaction zone receiving a catalyst. The local heating device is configured for focusing heat at reaction zone and/or the catalyst. The gaseous carbon supplier is configured for introducing gaseous carbon into the reactor from an upstream position of the reaction zone. The reactant gas supplier is configured for introducing a reactant gas containing a carbon source gas into the reactor.