Syllabus: Difference between revisions

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'''Fall 2009'''
'''Fall 2025'''


== Instructor ==
== Instructor ==
 
*Dr.  Branislav K. Nikolić
*Dr.  Branislav K. Nikolic
**Email: bnikolic@udel.edu   
**Email: bnikolic@udel.edu   
**Web: [http://www.physics.udel.edu/~bnikolic http://www.physics.udel.edu/~bnikolic]
**Web: [http://www.physics.udel.edu/~bnikolic http://www.physics.udel.edu/~bnikolic]
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== Calendar ==
== Calendar ==
 
* '''Lectures:''' TR 12:45PM - 2:05PM in Ewing 210.  
* MWF 1:25PM-2:15PM in 308 Gore Hal.
* '''Computer Lab:''' 1:50PM - 2:45PM in Colburn 046.  
* Computational Lab: W 6:00PM-8:00PM, September 16, September 23, November 18 and December 2 in [http://www.udel.edu/sites/116pear/index.html Pearson Hall 116 Lab].  
* Poster session for the final project: 12/15 at 12:30PM in 225 Sharp Lab.
* Poster session for the final project: December 16, 1-3PM, 225 Sharp Lab.  
* Office hours: Thursday 1:30-2:30 PM, or by appointment (email me).
* Office hours: MW 2:30-3:30 PM in 234 Sharp Lab, or by appointment (send me an email).
* Classes start on Tuesday, August 26 and terminate on Tuesday, December 9.
* Classes start on Wednesday, September 2 and terminate on Wednesday, December 9.
* Breaks: 10/10.  
* Breaks:  
**Thanksgiving Holiday: 11/24-30.  
**Labor Day, September 7.
**Instructor's travel schedule:
**Fall break, October 16.
**Thanksgiving Holiday, November 25-29.  
**Instructor's travel schedule: October 12-16, December 2, December 4.


== Requirements ==
== Requirements ==
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'''Lectures:''' The goal of class time is to emphasize important concepts covered in the textbook, introduce topics not in the text, and highlight common conceptual and problem-solving pitfalls. It is my responsibility to present this material for your coherently and create an environment in which you will feel comfortable participating. It is your responsibility to take me up on my offer to participate and to prepare yourself for the class by reading the material and working sample problems. Attendance for all lectures and discussions is strongly recommended.
'''Lectures:''' The goal of class time is to emphasize important concepts covered in the textbook, introduce topics not in the text, and highlight common conceptual and problem-solving pitfalls. It is my responsibility to present this material for your coherently and create an environment in which you will feel comfortable participating. It is your responsibility to take me up on my offer to participate and to prepare yourself for the class by reading the material and working sample problems. Attendance for all lectures and discussions is strongly recommended.


'''Quizzes:''' Short quizzes (albeit with open ended questions) will be given in the middle or at the end of the class to test student class participation.
'''Quizzes:''' Short quizzes will be given in the middle or at the end of the class to test student class participation.


'''Homeworks:''' [[Homework]] will be assigned on Mondays and it is due by next Monday (can be handed in the class or emailed as PDF).
===Resarch Track===
Students opting to work on Research Track will not have to solve homework problems or conduct two mini-research projects, but they will be required to take in-class  quizzes.  Instead, they will spend whole semester working on an open ended project via computer simulations. If successful, students will receive grade A and could also publish their result in the form of a journal article. If unsuccessful, students will have to take oral exam at the end of the course.
 
===Conventional Track===
 
'''Homeworks:''' [[Homework]] will be assigned on Tuesdays and it is due by next Tuesday (can be handed in the class or emailed as PDF).


'''Exams:''' There will be no traditional exams.
'''Exams:''' There will be no traditional exams.


'''Research Projects:''' Instead of traditional exams, two research projects will be assigned dealing with modeling of transport in nanostructures of contemporary interest. The first project will be reported on in the form of a journal article (two column style with text and equations, see Example), while the second one will be presented in the form of the poster session at the end of the semester.
'''Mini-Research Projects:''' Instead of traditional exams, two mini-research projects will be assigned dealing with modeling of transport in nanostructures of contemporary interest. The first project will be reported on in the form of a journal article (two column style with text and equations, see Example), while the second one will be presented in the form of the poster session at the end of the semester.


'''Academic Honesty:''' The policy on academic honesty as stated in the Student Guide to University Policies will be followed during this course. In particular: collaboration on homework assignments and in-class activities is permitted and encouraged (unless your instructor explicitly indicates otherwise).
==Academic Honesty==
The policy on academic honesty as stated in the Student Guide to University Policies will be followed during this course. In particular, collaboration on homework assignments and in-class activities is permitted and encouraged. However, you cannot submit identical reports/posters.


== Grading ==
== Grading ==


*The final score will be determined as a weighted average of different class activities listed above using the following formula:  
*The final score will be determined as a weighted average of different class activities listed above using the following formula:  
**Homework - 50%,
**Homework - 30%,
**Quiz - 10 %,  
**Quiz - 10 %,  
**Midterm and final Research Project - 40%.  
**Midterm and final Research Project - 60%.  


*Here is a guideline for your final letter grade, as a percentage of the total number of points:  
*Here is a guideline for your final letter grade, as a percentage of the total number of points:  
**86-100, some type of A,
**93 - 100 -> A
**73-85, some type of B,
**90 - 92 -> A-
**61-72 some type of C,
**85 - 89 -> B+
**51-60 some type of D,
**80 - 84 -> B
**50 and below is F.
**75 - 79 -> B-
These numbers may be lowered, depending upon numerous factors, but will not be raised (i.e., if you have an 86 average you are assured of at least an A-). The course grades are not curved.  
**70 - 74 -> C+
** 65 - 69 -> C
** 60 - 64 -> C-
** 57 - 59 -> D+
** 53 - 56 -> D
** 50 - 52 -> D-
** < 50 -> F
These numbers may be lowered, depending upon numerous factors, but will not be raised (i.e., if you have 90 average you are assured of at least an A-). The course grades are not curved.  


*'''Grading of overdue homework:''' Homeworks submitted after the deadline will incur a penalty 5 points for each 24 hour period. After eight days, the maximum possible grade is set at 60 points.
*'''Grading of overdue homework:''' Homeworks submitted after the deadline will incur a penalty 5 points for each 24 hour period. After eight days, the maximum possible grade is set at 60 points.
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== Study Guides ==
== Study Guides ==


* Main textbooks:
=== Main textbook===
**T. Ihn, ''Semiconductor Nanostructures'' (Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2010). [http://www.oup.com/us/catalog/general/subject/Physics/MesoscopicPhysicsNanotechnology/~~/dmlldz11c2EmY2k9OTc4MDE5OTUzNDQzMg== [publisher Website]]
*L. E. F. Foà Torres, S. Roche, and J.-C. Charlier, ''Introduction to Graphene-Based Nanomaterials: From Electronic Structure to Quantum Transport'' (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2020). [https://delcat.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/view/action/uresolver.do?operation=resolveService&package_service_id=11598538670007701&institutionId=7701&customerId=7700&VE=true [E-book from UD libary]]
**K. Varga and J. A. Driscoll, ''Computational Nanoscience: Applications for Molecules, Clusters, and Solids'' (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2011). [http://www.cambridge.org/gb/knowledge/isbn/item5960741/?site_locale=en_GB [publisher Website]]
 
===Supplementary textbook and videos for engineering students===
* Supplementary textbooks:
*S. Datta, ''Quantum transport: Atom to transistor'' (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2015). [https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/quantum-transport/E96BE74AACD59A03A7D6A7F7DACDFB71 [E-book from UD libary]]
**S. Datta: ''Quantum Transport: Atom to Transistor'' (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2005). [http://www.cambridge.org/us/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=9780521631457 [publisher Website]]
*S. Datta, ''Lessons from Nanoelectronics: A new Perspective on Transport,'' (Worlds Scientific, Singapore, 2018). [https://www.worldscientific.com/worldscibooks/10.1142/10440 [Publisher Website]].
** Yu. V. Nazarov and Ya. M. Blanter: ''Quantum Transport: Introduction to Nanoscience'' (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2009); of interest to graduate student doing Ph.D. in theoretical condensed matter physics. [http://www.cambridge.org/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=9780521832465 [publisher Website]]
*[https://nanohub.org/courses/FON1 nanoHUB-U: Fundamentals of Nanoelectronics - Part A: Basic Concepts]
** M. Di Ventra, ''Electrical Transport in Nanoscale Systems'' (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2008); of interest to graduate student doing Ph.D. in theoretical condensed matter physics. [http://www.cambridge.org/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=0521896347 [publisher Website]]
*[https://nanohub.org/courses/fon2 nanoHUB-U: Fundamentals of Nanoelectronics - Part B: Quantum Transport]
*[https://nanohub.org/resources/22800 nanoHUB-U: Non-Equilibrium Green's Function: A Different Perspective]
 
===Advanced material for theoretical physics students===
*D. Ryndyk,''Theory of Quantum Transport at Nanoscale: An Introduction'' (Springer, Cham, 2016). [https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-24088-6 [E-book from UD library]]
*G. Stefanucci and R. van Leeuwen, ''Nonequilibrium Many-Body Theory of Quantum Systems: A Modern Introduction'' (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2025). [https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/nonequilibrium-manybody-theory-of-quantum-systems/72B78EAA800B13DBC1BE0F50F20FE940 [E-book from UD library]]


* Journal resources: Review articles from Reviews of Modern Physics, Physics Reports, American Journal of Physics, ... (see [[References]]).
===Reviews===
* X. Waintal, M. Wimmer, A. Akhmerov, C. Groth, B. K. Nikolić, M. Istas, T. Ö. Rosdahl, and D. Varjas, ''Computational quantum transport'', [https://arxiv.org/abs/2407.16257 arXiv:2407.16257] (2024).
*B. K. Nikolić, K. Dolui, M. Petrović, P. Plecháč, T. Markussen, and K. Stokbro, ''First-principles quantum transport modeling of spin-transfer and spin-orbit torques in magnetic multilayers'' (Chapter of Handbook of Materials Modeling, Volume 2 Applications: Current and Emerging Materials (Springer, Cham, 2018). [https://wiki.physics.udel.edu/wiki_qttg/images/9/94/Review_stt_sot.pdf [PDF]]

Latest revision as of 11:26, 20 November 2025

Fall 2025

Instructor

Calendar

  • Lectures: TR 12:45PM - 2:05PM in Ewing 210.
  • Computer Lab: 1:50PM - 2:45PM in Colburn 046.
  • Poster session for the final project: 12/15 at 12:30PM in 225 Sharp Lab.
  • Office hours: Thursday 1:30-2:30 PM, or by appointment (email me).
  • Classes start on Tuesday, August 26 and terminate on Tuesday, December 9.
  • Breaks: 10/10.
    • Thanksgiving Holiday: 11/24-30.
    • Instructor's travel schedule:

Requirements

Lectures: The goal of class time is to emphasize important concepts covered in the textbook, introduce topics not in the text, and highlight common conceptual and problem-solving pitfalls. It is my responsibility to present this material for your coherently and create an environment in which you will feel comfortable participating. It is your responsibility to take me up on my offer to participate and to prepare yourself for the class by reading the material and working sample problems. Attendance for all lectures and discussions is strongly recommended.

Quizzes: Short quizzes will be given in the middle or at the end of the class to test student class participation.

Resarch Track

Students opting to work on Research Track will not have to solve homework problems or conduct two mini-research projects, but they will be required to take in-class quizzes. Instead, they will spend whole semester working on an open ended project via computer simulations. If successful, students will receive grade A and could also publish their result in the form of a journal article. If unsuccessful, students will have to take oral exam at the end of the course.

Conventional Track

Homeworks: Homework will be assigned on Tuesdays and it is due by next Tuesday (can be handed in the class or emailed as PDF).

Exams: There will be no traditional exams.

Mini-Research Projects: Instead of traditional exams, two mini-research projects will be assigned dealing with modeling of transport in nanostructures of contemporary interest. The first project will be reported on in the form of a journal article (two column style with text and equations, see Example), while the second one will be presented in the form of the poster session at the end of the semester.

Academic Honesty

The policy on academic honesty as stated in the Student Guide to University Policies will be followed during this course. In particular, collaboration on homework assignments and in-class activities is permitted and encouraged. However, you cannot submit identical reports/posters.

Grading

  • The final score will be determined as a weighted average of different class activities listed above using the following formula:
    • Homework - 30%,
    • Quiz - 10 %,
    • Midterm and final Research Project - 60%.
  • Here is a guideline for your final letter grade, as a percentage of the total number of points:
    • 93 - 100 -> A
    • 90 - 92 -> A-
    • 85 - 89 -> B+
    • 80 - 84 -> B
    • 75 - 79 -> B-
    • 70 - 74 -> C+
    • 65 - 69 -> C
    • 60 - 64 -> C-
    • 57 - 59 -> D+
    • 53 - 56 -> D
    • 50 - 52 -> D-
    • < 50 -> F

These numbers may be lowered, depending upon numerous factors, but will not be raised (i.e., if you have 90 average you are assured of at least an A-). The course grades are not curved.

  • Grading of overdue homework: Homeworks submitted after the deadline will incur a penalty 5 points for each 24 hour period. After eight days, the maximum possible grade is set at 60 points.

Study Guides

Main textbook

  • L. E. F. Foà Torres, S. Roche, and J.-C. Charlier, Introduction to Graphene-Based Nanomaterials: From Electronic Structure to Quantum Transport (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2020). [E-book from UD libary]

Supplementary textbook and videos for engineering students

Advanced material for theoretical physics students

  • D. Ryndyk,Theory of Quantum Transport at Nanoscale: An Introduction (Springer, Cham, 2016). [E-book from UD library]
  • G. Stefanucci and R. van Leeuwen, Nonequilibrium Many-Body Theory of Quantum Systems: A Modern Introduction (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2025). [E-book from UD library]

Reviews

  • X. Waintal, M. Wimmer, A. Akhmerov, C. Groth, B. K. Nikolić, M. Istas, T. Ö. Rosdahl, and D. Varjas, Computational quantum transport, arXiv:2407.16257 (2024).
  • B. K. Nikolić, K. Dolui, M. Petrović, P. Plecháč, T. Markussen, and K. Stokbro, First-principles quantum transport modeling of spin-transfer and spin-orbit torques in magnetic multilayers (Chapter of Handbook of Materials Modeling, Volume 2 Applications: Current and Emerging Materials (Springer, Cham, 2018). [PDF]