[CCoE Notice] Colloquium Announcement * March 5, 2010 * Irena Knezevic * Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin - Madison

[Lewis, Lindsay R]

***** Colloquium *****

Center for Integrated NanoSystems

Houston Chapter of IEEE Nanotechnology Council and Houston Chapter of
IEEE Magnetics Society

Friday, March 5, 2010

12:30 p.m. (Refreshments served at noon)

Room: W122 Building D3

 

Computational Design of Semiconductor Nanostructures for Electronic,
Thermoelectric, and Optoelectronic Applications

 

Irena Knezevic

 

Electrical and Computer Engineering,University of Wisconsin - Madison

 

There is a large interest in tailoring semiconductor nanostructures to
display desired electronic, thermal, or optical properties.
Nanostructure dimensions are typically between a few and a few hundred
nanometers, so they are too large to treat using atomistic methods, yet
too small for continuum techniques. Their characteristics are strongly
influenced by the properties of the interfaces, such as roughness,
surface defects, or adsorbed charges. A major challenge in predicting
the properties of nanostructures lies precisely in capturing the complex
interplay between the confined particle states and the surface
condition. I will review techniques typically used to analyze and
predict the electronic, thermal, and optoelectronic properties of
semiconductor nanostructures, with particular focus on the versatility
that the ensemble Monte Carlo technique offers in simulating these
different transport phenomena. In particular, I will present our results
on electronic and thermal transport in nanowires, based on the coupled
electronic and thermal ensemble Monte Carlo simulation with confined
electron and phonon dispersions. We will take a close look into boundary
scattering of electrons and phonons, and features such as phonon
localization, and discuss where atomistic simulations naturally come to
play to aid in the description of interfaces. We will then look into the
design on strain superlattices for thermoelectric applications and the
design of nanowire interfaces for tailoring thermal conduction. We will
also examine how efficient transport simulation aids in the design of
quantum cascade lasers. Multivalley ensemble Monte Carlo simulation,
combined with k.p bandstructrue calculations and the dielectric
continuum model, captures the transport of heat and charge in
midinfrared quantum cascade lasers, and helps pinpoint the flaws of a
laser design and directions for performance improvement through
minimized leakage. We also discuss some promising new avenues, such as
the simulation of high-frequency and transient phenomena in
nanostructures using a combination of full electrodynamics together with
the transport of charge and heat, from low- temperature ballistic to
room-temperature diffusive transport regimes. 
 

Bio of Prof. Knezevic:

 

Irena Knezevic is an Assistant Professor in the Electrical and Computer
Engineering Department at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. She
received her Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from Arizona State
University in 2004, and joined the University of Wisconsin faculty the
same year.  Her research activities include quantum transport theory,
simulation of electronic and optoelectronic devices, nanowire
thermoelectrics and heat transport on the nanoscale, transport in
low-dimensional and curved nanostructures, and quantum information. Dr.
Knezevic is a recipient of the 2004-2005 Palais' Outstanding Doctoral
Student Award, the 2006 NSF Early Career development (NSF CAREER) Award,
the 2008 Gerald Holdridge Excellence in Teaching Award, as well as of
the 2009 AFOSR Young Investigator Research Program (YIP) Award.  

Contact Prof. Stanko Brankovic (stanko.brankovic at mail.uh.edu) if you
would like to arrange for a time to meet with Prof. Knezevic.

 

 

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