The advent of semiconductor structures whose characteristic dimensions are smaller than the mean free path of carriers has led to the development of novel devices and given rise to many advances in our theoretical understanding of these mesoscopic systems or nanostructures. This book reviews the results of experimental research into mesoscopic devices and develops a detailed theoretical framework for understanding their behavior.

The authors begin by discussing the key observable phenomena in nanostmctures, including phase interference and weak localization. They then describe quantum confined systems, transmission in nanostructures, quantum dots, and single electron phenomena. Separate chapters are devoted to interference in diffusive transport and temperature decay of fluctuations, and the book concludes with a chapter on non-equilibrium transport and nanodevices. Throughout, the authors interweave experimental results with the appropriate theoretical formalism.

Preface

Acknowledgements

1 Introduction

1.1 Nanostructures:The impact

1.2 Mesoscopic observables in nanostructures

1.3 Space and time scales

1.4 An introduction to the subsequent chapters

1.5 What is omitted

2 Quantum confined systems

2.1 Nanostrue materials

2.2 Quantization in herojunction system

2.3 Lateral confinement:Quantum wires and quantum dots

2.4 Electronic states in quantum wires and quantum dots

2.5 Magnetic field effects in quantum confined systems

2.6 Screening and collective excitations in low-dimensional systems

2.7 Homogeneous transport in low-dimensional systems

3 Transmission in nanostructures

3.1 Tunneling in planar barrier structures

3.2 Wavefunction treatment of tunneling

3.3 Current in resonant tuueling diodes

3.4 Landauer formula

3.5 The multi-channel case

3.6 Quantized conductance in nanostructures

3.7 Transport in quantum waveguied structures

3.8 Lattice Green's function method

3.9 Multi-probe formula

3.10 Magnetic fields and quantum waveguides

4 Quantum dots and single electron phenomena

5 Interference in diffusive transport

6 Temperature decay of fluctuations

7 Nonequilibrium transport and nanodevices

Index