Nanoelectronics and Nanooptics

This lecture gives an in-depth introduction into the electronic, thermoelectric, optoelectronic, and optical properties of nanoscale circuits and materials. It starts with a short recapitulation of topics from solid state physics and semiconductor physics, and then, it focuses on the fascinating phenomena of quantum physics which occur at low electron numbers and dimensions: 3D, 2D, 1D and 0D. The lecture gives the opportunity to understand the physics of modern nanoscale electronics and optics. The following specific topics will be addressed:

·       Introduction to the subject of nanoscale electronics and optics;

·       Overview, classification and characteristic properties of nano-electronic as well as nano-optical systems and circuits;

·       Electronic transport phenomena in 3D, 2D, 1D and 0D.

·       Detailed description of optical two level systems and exciton physics.

·       Optical phenomena in 3D and 2D.

·       Discussion of  potential device application for selected 2D materials in the area of electronic, sensing, opto-/electronic, and photovoltaic applications;

·       Focus topics to introduce peculiar properties of selected materials in more detail cover:

o   Graphene

o   Topological Insulators

o   Two-dimensional materials

o   Plasmonic materials

Furthermore, the students will get exposed to recent research paper and review article in high-impact research journals such as science, nature publishing group and further literature related to nanoelectronic and nanoptical topics. The students are getting trained in how to access and extract the information from those topical research articles.

After a successful participation of the module, the student is able to:

1. Understand different classes of nanoscale materials and their physical properties.

2. Understand preparation and nanofabrication methods for nanoscale materials.

3. Understand  and distinguish optical and structural characterization methods for nanoscale materials. 

4. Evaluate charge transport and quantum phenomena, such as the quantum Hall effect and conductance quantization, in the various dimensions.

5. Remember optical phenomena of nanoscale systems in the various dimensions.

6. Understand excitonic absorption and plasmonic phenomena.

7. Evaluate 2D materials and their specific optical and transport properties.

8. Evaluate  applications of nanoscale materials for electronic, optoelectronic, and spintronic applications.

9. Access and evaluate the content of topical research articles focusing on selected topics related to nanoscale material research in high-impact journals.

There are no access requirements beyond the ones for the master study.

Presentation in the lecture hall, tutorials on specific topics with group work

beamer presentation, black board

Script with references

There will be an oral exam of 25 minutes duration. Therein the achievement of the competencies given in section learning outcome is tested exemplarily at least to the given cognition level using comprehension questions and sample calculations.

For example an assignment in the exam might be:

• - Explain the concept of a phase coherent transport in low-dimensional electron systems.
• - Discuss the dielectric function of plasmonic system.
• - Explain the integer and fractional quantum Hall effect in two-dimensional electron gases.
• - Explain the charging energy in quantum dots.
• - Derive the energy scale of direct and indirect excitons in solid state systems.
• - Explain the concept of topological insulators.