Mesoscopic physics unifies physical systems “in between” microworld and macroworld. Such systems are sufficiently large to reveal certain statistical regularities, but they are sufficiently small to allow physicists to study, both theoretically and experimentally, individual quantum states. The conference covers common and specific features of those systems (nuclei, complex atoms and molecules, atomic traps, sold state micro- and nano-devices, prototypes of future quantum computers). This young field is rapidly developing opening new ideas and technological breakthroughs.

The goal of the Workshop was to open the way for exchange of ideas between physicists working in different areas of quantum physics but studying the objects of mesoscopic nature which reveal important generic features and allow for similar approaches. Among these objects are complex nuclei, atoms and molecules, nanoscale condensed matter systems, atomic clusters, atoms in traps, prototypes of quantum computers etc. The Workshop WNMP-2004 was organized with the idea of bringing together researchers actively working on the multitude of mesoscopic problems in various areas and, through cross-fertilizing discussions, make an attempt to bridge the existing gaps, find a common language and clean the way for future collaborations. The topics of common interest included general features of mesoscopic systems; experimental, theoretical and computational methods used for their studies; coherent phenomena, such as superfluidity and superconductivity; many-body quantum chaos; marginally stable and open systems; phase transitions and thermodynamic properties (an exciting subject with contradictory opinions reflected in the Proceedings).

This book summarizes the recent development of nuclear science as an important part of mesoscopic physics, the intermediate world between the macroscopic and microscopic. This fast developing area with many practical applications includes complex atoms, molecules (including biological), nuclei, small-scale solid state systems, and future quantum computers. The complexity of the problem appears due to the richness of problems, from the necessity to study individual quantum levels, to the fundamental features of statistics and thermodynamics.

This advanced textbook presents an extensive and diverse study of low-energy nuclear physics considering the nucleus as a quantum system of strongly interacting constituents. The contents guide students from the basic facts and ideas to more modern topics including important developments over the last 20 years, resulting in a comprehensive collection of major modern-day nuclear models otherwise unavailable in the current literature. The book emphasizes the common features of the nucleus and other many-body mesoscopic systems currently in the center of interest in physics. The authors have also included full problem sets that can be selected by lecturers and adjusted to specific interests for more advanced students, with many chapters containing links to freely available computer code. As a result, readers are equipped for scientific work in mesoscopic physics.

Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop, held in Granada, Spain, 6-12 September 2003

Physics and Modeling of Tera- and Nano-Devices is a compilation of papers by well-respected researchers working in the field of physics and modeling of novel electronic and optoelectronic devices. The topics covered include devices based on carbon nanotubes, generation and detection of terahertz radiation in semiconductor structures including terahertz plasma oscillations and instabilities, terahertz photomixing in semiconductor heterostructures, spin and microwave-induced phenomena in low-dimensional systems, and various computational aspects of device modeling. Researchers as well as graduate and postgraduate students working in this field will benefit from reading this book. Sample Chapter(s). Semiconductor Device Scaling: Physics, Transport, and the Role of Nanowires (784 KB). Contents: Semiconductor Device Scaling: Physics, Transport, and the Role of Nanowires (D K Ferry et al.); Polaronic Effects at the Field Effect Junctions for Unconventional Semiconductors (N Kirova); Cellular Monte Carlo Simulation of High Field Transport in Semiconductor Devices (S M Goodnick & M Saraniti); Nanoelectronic Device Simulation Based on the Wigner Function Formalism (H Kosina); Quantum Simulations of Dual Gate MOSFET Devices: Building and Deploying Community Nanotechnology Software Tools on nanoHUB.org (S Ahmed et al.); Positive Magneto-Resistance in a Point Contact: Possible Manifestation of Interactions (V T Renard et al.); Impact of Intrinsic Parameter Fluctuations in Nano-CMOS Devices on Circuits and Systems (S Roy et al.); HEMT-Based Nanometer Devices Toward Terahertz Era (E Sano & T Otsuji); Plasma Waves in Two-Dimensional Electron Systems and Their Applications (V Ryzhii et al.); Resonant Terahertz Detection Antenna Utilizing Plasma Oscillations in Lateral Schottky Diode (A Satou et al.); Terahertz Polarization Controller Based on Electronic Dispersion Control of 2D Plasmons (T Nishimura & T Otsuji); Higher-Order Plasmon Resonances in GaN-Based Field-Effect Transistor Arrays (V V Popov et al.); Ultra-Highly Sensitive Terahertz Detection Using Carbon-Nanotube Quantum Dots (Y Kawano et al.); Generation of Ultrashort Electron Bunches in Nanostructures by Femtosecond Laser Pulses (A Gladun et al.); Characterization of Voltage-Controlled Oscillator Using RTD Transmission Line (K Narahara et al.); Infrared Quantum-Dot Detectors with Diffusion-Limited Capture (N Vagidov et al.); Magnetoresistance in Fe/MgO/Fe Magentic Tunnel Junctions (N N Beleskii et al.); Modeling and Implementation of Spin-Based Quantum Computation (M E Hawley et al.); Quantum Engineering for Threat Reduction and Homeland Security (G P Berman et al.); Strong Phase Shift Mask Manufacturing Error Impact on the 65nm Poly Line Printability (N Belova). Readership: Academics, graduate and postgraduate students in the field of physics and modeling of novel electronics and optoelectronic devices.