Physics and Astronomy - Course Details

PHYS570X: Carbon Nanophysics I (PAST/FUTURE SEMESTER)

Offering:
3 Credits

Prerequisites:
Undergraduate-level electromagnetism, basic knowledge in quantum mechanics, solid state electronics and modern physics also helpful
View Additional Prerequisites

Description:

Course Wiki: http://phys570x.wikispaces.com/

This course will introduce concepts and experimental methods of modern solid state physics and nano physics from a "carbon" perspective, focusing on the graphene and carbon nanotubes (CNT).

This is one of a 3-course series which are largely independent from each other (Carbon Nanophysics 0 in Spring 2009 was an overview of material properties and technological applications; Carbon Nanophysics 1 in Spring 2010 will focus on electronic properties and nanoelectronic devices; Carbon Nanophysics 2 in Spring 2011 will focus on optical, thermal, mechanical and other properties). This course will be self-contained --- only minimum background on quantum mechanics and solid state electronics are assumed and you do not have to have taken a previous course on solid state/nanophysics or the previous version of PHYS570X.

Topics for Spring 2010 include:

• Overview of carbon materials: graphite (3D), graphene (2D), carbon nanotubes (1D), buckyballs (0D); fabrication methods and material properties
• Basic concepts of solid state and nanophysics and applications to carbon materials: band structure, density of states, electronic transport, thermoelectrics, effects of lattice, disorder and electron-electron interaction
• Electronic transport of low dimensional systems as illustrated by graphene and carbon nanotubes (CNT): such as quantum Hall effects; localization; interaction effects and many-body physics; experimental techniques for transport measurements
• Local probe of electronic properties: scanning probe microscopies esp. STM
• Carbon nanoelectronic devices: field effect transistors and high-frequency devices
• Optoelectronic properties, carbon based photonic devices and solar cells
• spin-transport, magnetism and superconductivity in carbon nanomaterials

Course structure: lectures; student presentations/projects (review journal papers and/or mini projects/proposals); biweekly homework and in-class quizzes.

Recommended References:
General:

• N.W. Ashcroft and N.D. Mermin, Solid State Physics (1976)
• John H. Davies, The Physics of Low Dimensional Semiconductors: An Introduction, Cambridge (1998)
• M.J. Kelly, Low-dimensional semiconductors: materials, physics, technology, devices, Oxford (1995)
• S. Datta, Electronic Transport in Mesoscopic Systems, Cambridge (1997)
• C. Julian Chen, Introduction to Scanning Tunneling Microscopy, Oxford (2008)

Graphene and CNTs:

• H. Castro Neto et al., The Electronic Properties of Graphene, Rev. Mod. Phys. 81, 109 (2009)
• Ado Jorio (Ed), Gene Dresselhaus (Ed), Mildred S. Dresselhaus (Ed): Carbon Nanotubes: Advanced Topics in the Synthesis, Structure, Properties, Applications (Topics in Applied Physics), Springer (2008)
• Stephanie Reich, Christian Thomsen, Janina Maultzsch: Carbon Nanotubes: Basic Concepts and Physical Properties, Wiley (2004)

Instructor(s):
CHEN, YONG P.

Email:
yongchen@purdue.edu

Textbook(s) for Spring 2009

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