402-0595-00L Semiconductor Nanostructures
| Semester | Autumn Semester 2020 |
| Lecturers | T. M. Ihn |
| Periodicity | yearly recurring course |
| Language of instruction | English |
Courses
| Number | Title | Hours | Lecturers | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 402-0595-00 V | Semiconductor Nanostructures | 2 hrs |
| T. M. Ihn | ||||||
| 402-0595-00 U | Semiconductor Nanostructures or by appointment | 1 hrs |
| T. M. Ihn |
Catalogue data
| Abstract | The course covers the foundations of semiconductor nanostructures, e.g., materials, band structures, bandgap engineering and doping, field-effect transistors. The physics of the quantum Hall effect and of common nanostructures based on two-dimensional electron gases will be discussed, i.e., quantum point contacts, Aharonov-Bohm rings and quantum dots. |
| Objective | At the end of the lecture the student should understand four key phenomena of electron transport in semiconductor nanostructures: 1. The integer quantum Hall effect 2. Conductance quantization in quantum point contacts 3. the Aharonov-Bohm effect 4. Coulomb blockade in quantum dots |
| Content | 1. Introduction and overview 2. Semiconductor crystals: Fabrication and band structures 3. k.p-theory, effective mass 4. Envelope functions and effective mass approximation, heterostructures and band engineering 5. Fabrication of semiconductor nanostructures 6. Elektrostatics and quantum mechanics of semiconductor nanostructures 7. Heterostructures and two-dimensional electron gases 8. Drude Transport 9. Electron transport in quantum point contacts; Landauer-Büttiker description 10. Ballistic transport experiments 11. Interference effects in Aharonov-Bohm rings 12. Electron in a magnetic field, Shubnikov-de Haas effect 13. Integer quantum Hall effect 14. Coulomb blockade and quantum dots |
| Lecture notes | T. Ihn, Semiconductor Nanostructures, Quantum States and Electronic Transport, Oxford University Press, 2010. |
| Literature | In addition to the lecture notes, the following supplementary books can be recommended: 1. J. H. Davies: The Physics of Low-Dimensional Semiconductors, Cambridge University Press (1998) 2. S. Datta: Electronic Transport in Mesoscopic Systems, Cambridge University Press (1997) 3. D. Ferry: Transport in Nanostructures, Cambridge University Press (1997) 4. T. M. Heinzel: Mesoscopic Electronics in Solid State Nanostructures: an Introduction, Wiley-VCH (2003) 5. Beenakker, van Houten: Quantum Transport in Semiconductor Nanostructures, in: Semiconductor Heterostructures and Nanostructures, Academic Press (1991) 6. Y. Imry: Introduction to Mesoscopic Physics, Oxford University Press (1997) |
| Prerequisites / Notice | The lecture is suitable for all physics students beyond the bachelor of science degree. Basic knowledge of solid state physics is a prerequisit. Very ambitioned students in the third year may be able to follow. The lecture can be chosen as part of the PhD-program. The course is taught in English. |
Performance assessment
| Performance assessment information (valid until the course unit is held again) | |
Performance assessment as a semester course | |
| ECTS credits | 6 credits |
| Examiners | T. M. Ihn |
| Type | session examination |
| Language of examination | English |
| Repetition | The performance assessment is offered every session. Repetition possible without re-enrolling for the course unit. |
| Mode of examination | oral 20 minutes |
| Additional information on mode of examination | Obligatorisches Leistungselement: ein Vortrag über eine Publikation aus der Forschung, Termin nach Absprache während der Übung, Bewertung gemäss pass/fail. Es wird sehr empfohlen, die wöchentlichen Übungsaufgaben zu lösen. Prüfungssprache: Deutsch oder Englisch. Language of examination: English or German. |
| This information can be updated until the beginning of the semester; information on the examination timetable is binding. | |
Learning materials
| No public learning materials available. | |
| Only public learning materials are listed. |
Groups
| No information on groups available. |
Restrictions
| There are no additional restrictions for the registration. |
