ECE 495N - Fundamentals of Nanoelectronics
Course Details
Lecture Hours: 3 Credits: 3
Counts as:
Experimental Course Offered:
Fall 2007
Requisites:
Prerequisites: MA 266 and MA 265 or MA 262 Concurrent Prerequisites: ECE 305
Requisites by Topic:
Prerequisites: Familiarity with matrix algebra, MATLAB, Elementary differential equations. Concurrent Prerequisites: Basic semiconductor device physics.
Catalog Description:
The development of "nanotechnology" has made it possible to engineer materials and devices on a length scale as small as several nanometers (atomic distances are ~ 0.1 nm). The properties of such "nanostructures" cannot be described in terms of macroscopic parameters like mobility or diffusion coefficient and a microscopic or atomistic viewpoint is called for. The purpose of this course is to convey the conceptual framework that underlies this microscopic viewpoint using examples related to the emerging field of nanoelectronics.
Course Objectives:
To convey the basic concepts of nanoelectronics to electrical engineering students with no background in quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics.
Required Text(s):
- Quantum Transport: Atom to Transistor , S. Datta , Cambridge University Press , 2005 , ISBN No. 0-521-63145-9
Recommended Text(s):
- MatLab: Student Version , The MathWorks, Inc.
- Series of four lectures posted at http://www.nanohub.org/courses/cqt
Learning Outcomes:
- Ability to perform simple analysis of nanoelectronic devices. [a,k]
- Ability to calculate the density of states in nonelectronic devices. [a,k]
- Ability to perform in-depth analysis of nanoelectronic devices. [a,k]
Lecture Outline:
Weeks | Topic |
---|---|
1-5 | An atomistic view of electrical resistance See also http://www.nanohub.org/courses/cqt |
Schrodinger equation Hydrogen atom, Method of finite differences | |
Self-consistent field / Coulomb blockade One-electron versus the many-electron picture See also http://www.nanohub.org/courses/cqt HW#1, 2, 3, Exam I | |
6-10 | Basis functions Converting a differential equation to a matrix equation |
Bandstructure Toy examples, general result, common semiconductors | |
Subbands Quantum wells, wires, dots and nanotubes Density of states HW#4,5,6, Exam II | |
11-15 | Minimum resistance of a quantum wire, Capacitance: Quantum versus electrostatic |
Local density of states, Lifetime, Golden rule Coherent transport, Current-voltage characteristics See also http://www.nanohub.org/courses/cqt | |
Nanodevices and Maxwell's demon See http://www.nanohub.org/courses/cqt Atom to transistor HW# 7,8,9 New paradigms for nanoelectronics | |
Exam III (Finals Week) |
Assessment Method:
Exams I, II and III respectively.