David K. Ferry

This book was derived from a talk that the author gave at the International Conference on Advanced Nanodevices and Nanotechnology in Hawaii. The book is about science and engineering, but is not on science and engineering. It is not a textbook which develops the understanding of a small part of the field, but a book about random encounters and about the strengths and the foibles of living as a physicist and engineer for half a century. It presents the author’s personal views on science, engineering, and life and is illustrated by a number of lively stories about various events, some of which shaped his life.

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 advances in theoretical understanding of mesoscopic systems or nanostructures. This book has been thoroughly revised and provides a much-needed update on the very latest experimental research into mesoscopic devices and develops a detailed theoretical framework for understanding their behaviour. Beginning with the key observable phenomena in nanostructures, the authors describe quantum confined systems, transmission in nanostructures, quantum dots, and single electron phenomena. Separate chapters are devoted to interference in diffusive transport, temperature decay of fluctuations, and non-equilibrium transport and nanodevices. Throughout the book, the authors interweave experimental results with the appropriate theoretical formalism. The book will be of great interest to graduate students taking courses in mesoscopic physics or nanoelectronics, and researchers working on semiconductor nanostructures.

Transport in Nanostructures reviews the results of experimental research into mesoscopic devices, and develops a detailed theoretical framework for understanding their behavior. The authors discuss the key observable phenomena in nanostructures, including phase interference and weak localization. They then describe quantum confined systems, transmission in nanostructures, quantum dots and single electron phenomena. Separate chapters cover interference in diffusive transport and temperature decay of fluctuations, and a chapter on nonequilibrium transport and nanodevices concludes the book. Throughout, Ferry and Goodnick interweave experimental results with the appropriate theoretical formalism. Profusely illustrated, the book will be of great interest to graduate students taking courses in mesoscopic physics or nanoelectronics, as well as to researchers working on semiconductor nanostructures or the development of new ultrasmall devices.