Aims

The aims of the course are to:

• Understand the basic principles behind quantum mechanics and be able to apply it to problems relevant to Electrical Engineering
• Explore the concepts of quantum information processing and quantum computing
• Become familiar with nanotechnology, what it is, where it is used, and how it relates to quantum systems

Objectives

As specific objectives, by the end of the course students should be able to:

• Apply quantum principles to understand charge transport and current flow at the nanoscale
• Understand quantum confinement, the origin of band structure, and how it relates to quantum size effects
• Be able to predict basic electrical properties of materials
• Understand and explain the principles behind thermal conductivity of materials
• Describe the operation principle of a quantum computer
• Explain the principles behind quantum encryption
• Understand the basic relationships between size and properties of materials, their quantum origin, and their application via nanotechnology
• Know how to measure and explore properties of nanostructures

Content

The aim of this module is to introduce (building on material in 3B5) the concepts underlying quantum mechanics and nanotechnology, and see how to apply them to problems relevant to electrical engineering. We will explore the quantum origin of many of the properties of materials, ranging from resistivity, mechanical properties, colour, and band structure, and how these properties evolve with size. We will approach this from two angles: from the theoretical principles and predictions of quantum mechanics, to the manifestations of these as exploited using nanotechnology.

Lecture content:
9/10 lectures will be delivered by Dr Durkan and the remaining 4/5 lectures (on Quantum information processing) will be delivered by Dr Delfanazari

• The need for quantum description of the world around us.
• The basic assumptions of quantum mechanics.
• Solutions to the Schrodinger equation - confinement, band structures, quantum harmonic oscillator.
• Interpretation of quantum mechanics.
• Everyday examples of quantum mechanics at work.
• A quantum description of electrical properties of materials, and where Ohm's law comes from.
• Mesoscopic transport & the Landauer-Buttiker formalism.
• A look into the principles underlying quantum information  processing.
• Entanglement, encryption and quantum computing.
• Nanotechnology - what it is and relationship to quantum mechanics.
• Nanomaterials, evolution of properties of materials with decreasing size, dimensionality.
• Ultimate nanostructures - graphene, molecular systems, novel device architectures.
• Exploring nanostructures - seeing atoms, scanning probe microscopy - see an AFM in operation.

Demonstrations during the lectures will include:

• Seeing an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) up close, and exploring how it works.
• Seeing some everyday nanostructured materials in nature

This syllabus contributes to the following areas of the UK-SPEC standard:

Toggle display of UK-SPEC areas.

 
Last modified: 04/06/2019 10:41