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402-0595-00L 6 Credits BSC , MSC D-CHAB , D-PHYS
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Semiconductor Nanostructures

Halbleiter-Nanostrukturen

Lecturers & Examiners: Prof. Dr. Thomas Markus Ihn
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:14:40

Abstract

The foundations of semiconductor nanostructures will be taught, e.g., materials, band structures, bandgap engineering and doping, field-effect transistors. The physics of common nanostructures based on two-dimensional electron gases will be discussed, i.e., resonant tunneling diodes, quantum point contacts, Aharonov-Bohm rings and quantum dots.

Objective

At the end of the lecture the student should understand five key phenomena of electron transport in semiconductor nanostructures: 1. The integer and the fractional quantum Hall effect 2. Conductance quantization in quantum point contacts 3. the Aharonov-Bohm effect and related interference phenomena 4. resonant tunneling 5. Coulomb blockade in quantum dots

Content

1. Introduction and overview 2. Semiconductor crystals: Fabrication and Bandstructures 3. Effective mass approximation 4. Heterostructures and two-dimensional electron gases 5. Quantum transport in two-dimensional electron gases 6. Fabrication of semiconductor nanostructures 7. Elektrostatics of semiconductor nanostructures 8. Quantum mechanics of semiconductor nanostructures 9. Electron transport in quantum point contacts; Landauer-Büttiker description 10. The quantum Hall effect 11. Interference effects in Aharonov-Bohm rings and related phenomena 12. Resonant tunneling 13. Coulomb blockade and quantum dots

Resources

Lecture Notes

An elaborate manuscript will be handed out (in German).

Literature

During the course, 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. Murayama: Mesoscopic Systems - Fundamentals and Applications, Wiley-VCH (2001) 7. Y. Imry: Introduction to Mesoscopic Physics, Oxford University Press (1997)

General Information

Language
German
Levels
BSC , MSC
Frequency
Yearly recurring

Examination

Type
session examination
Mode
oral 20 minutes

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture Halbleiter-Nanostrukturen
on request in English
  • Wed 07:45-09:30 (HPP H 3)
2 h weekly
exercise Halbleiter-Nanostrukturen
oder nach Vereinbarung
  • Wed 09:45-10:30 (HPP H 3)
  • Wed 10:45-11:30 (HPP H 3)
1 h weekly

Offered In