Solid-State Dynamics and Quantum Transport in Novel Semiconductor Nanostructures

The objective of this research program is to study theoretically the underlying principles of solid-state dynamics and quantum mechanical transport of carriers in ultrasmall novel semiconductor devices. The areas of research to be investigated are 1 theory of optical phonon modes in heterostructures and 2 quantum transport in solids with special emphasis on non-perturbative role of high-electric fields, many-body effects, and band-mixing in dynamical processes. These problems will be treated analytically through the development of macroscopic and microscopic physical models with an emphasis on quantum mechanical principles. Specific subjects discussed in this proposal include the effects of confined and interface phonon modes, two-electron quantum transport theory under hot-electron conditions, dielectric response function theory, and the effects of band-mixing in tunneling. The knowledge developed in this work will be of major importance in explaining the nove phenomena and fundamental questions relating to the breakdown of classical solid-state electronics as device dimensional scales are reduced to the submicron and ultra-submicron regime.