Spring 2009

This is a newly produced version of the course that was formerly available. We would greatly appreciate your feedback regarding the new format and contents.

Traditionally atomistic approaches have been used to model materials in terms of average parameters like the mobility or the diffusion coefficient which are then used as inputs to macroscopic device models. This approach is still widely used but it is not adequate to meet the challenges and opportunities afforded by the development of nanotechnology that makes it possible to engineer materials and devices on a length scale as small as several nanometers (atomic distances are ~ 0.2 nm). An integrated approach is needed that embeds modern atomistic thinking directly into the models used for non-equilibrium systems like nanoscale transistors, energy conversion devices and bio-sensors. This requires not just quantum mechanics, but also an appreciation of some of the most advanced concepts of non-equilibrium statistical mechanics, together with the valuable insights obtained from recent developments in mesoscopic physics. Our aim is to condense the central concepts into a one semester course, assuming no prior background other than linear algebra.

Prerequisite: Matrix algebra, Familiarity with MATLAB (or equivalent) necessary for some homeworks and for take-home exam.

Course Information Website

Lecture notes prepared by Samiran Ganguly.

• Quantum Transport: Atom to Transistor, Chapters 1, 4, 7.1, 8-11, Cambridge University Press (ISBN-13: 9780521631457, ISBN-10: 0521631459)
• Nanoelectronics and the Meaning of Resistance, Lectures 1-5B (See lecture 38.0 for Lecture 5A)
• Nanoelectronic Devices: A Unified View, to appear in The Oxford Handbook on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology: Frontiers and Advances, eds. A.V. Narlikar and Y.Y. Fu, volume 1, chapter 1, arxiv.org/abs/0809.4460v2
• Nanodevices and Maxwell’s Demon, Lecture Notes in Nanoscale Science and Technology, Vol. 2, Nanoscale Phenomena: Basic Science to Device Applications, Eds. Z.K. Tang and P. Sheng, Springer (2008), arxiv.org/abs/0704.1623
• Influence of Dimensionality on Thermoelectric Device Performance, Raseong Kim, Supriyo Datta, Mark S. Lundstrom, arxiv.org/abs/0811.3632

• 

  Quantum Transport: Atom to Transistor

  by Supriyo Datta (Cambridge - July 11, 2005)

  This book presents a unique approach to the fundamentals of quantum transport, and is aimed at senior undergraduate and graduate students. Some of the most advanced concepts of non-equilibrium statistical mechanics are included and yet no prior acquaintance with quantum mechanics is assumed.

Researchers should cite this work as follows:

• Supriyo Datta (2009), "ECE 659 Quantum Transport: Atom to Transistor," https://nanohub.org/resources/6172.

1. course lecture
2. nanoelectronics
3. nanotransistors
4. quantum transport
5. transistors