Physics 701 @ Middle East Technical University

Introduction to Nano- and Micro-Scale Quantum Devices

When a particular quantity of a system under study becomes comparable or smaller than a relevant correlation length, the system shows vastly different properties than its macroscopic counterpart. For instance, when the electronic mean free path becomes smaller than the Fermi wavelength in solids, the wave character of the electrons becomes important and starts governing the material’s properties. Mesoscopic solid-state systems have become increasingly important over the last 30 years as the miniaturization of electronic components has happened at an exponential rate. This course aims to introduce Nano- and Micro-Scale electronic devices where the quantities in solid state systems become smaller than the relevant correlation lengths, thus semiclassical or quantum properties become important.

Weekly Syllabus

1. Introduction to mesoscopic systems
   What is mesoscale? Relevant length scales, electronic transport in solids
2. A reminder of solid-state physics
   Electronic energy bands, occupation of energy bands, doping, scattering, screening
3. Surface, interfaces, and layered devices
   Electronic surface states, semiconductor/metal interfaces, 2D van der Waals heterostructures
4. Mesoscopic transport concepts
   Ballistic transport, diffusive transport, quantum transport, Anderson localization
5. Magnetotransport properties of normal/quantum films I
   Hall effect, Landau quantization, Schubnikov- de Haas oscillations, quasi-2D electron gasses
6. Magnetotransport properties of normal/quantum films II
   Hall effect, Landau quantization, Schubnikov- de Haas oscillations, quasi-2D electron gasses
7. Quantum Hall effect
   A detailed study of quantum Hall effect
8. Quantum wires
   Diffusive and ballistic quantum wires, edge states
9. Quantum point contacts
   Quantum point contact circuits and their properties
10. Quantum dots
    Properties of quantum dots
11. Electronic phase coherence
    Aharonov-Bohm effect in solids, weak localization, resonant tunneling
12. Single-electron tunneling
    Coulomb blockade, examples of SET circuits
13. Superconducting mesoscopic devices
    Superconducting rings, thin wires, Josephson junctions, Andreev reflection, Majorana fermions
14. Experimental measurement of mesoscopic systems
    Sample preparation, cryogenics, electronic measurements, new horizons with 2D layered materials

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