Quantum Phenomena in Mesoscopic Materials and Devices

Catalog description

This course develops the physical principles behind quantum behavior in nanoscale solid-state devices where phase coherence, confinement, and interactions dominate transport. Topics include quantum point contacts (quantized conductance and shot noise), quantum dots (Coulomb blockade, single-electron tunneling, and Kondo physics), and focus on real materials like topological insulators and superconductors. The course also introduces superconducting hybrid structures and Josephson junction physics, emphasizing how mesoscopic effects emerge in real devices and measurement setups. Students will connect simplified theoretical models to experimental signatures commonly observed in low-temperature nanoelectronics.