Parallel treatments of photons, electrons, phonons, and molecules as energy carriers, aiming at fundamental understanding and descriptive tools for energy and heat transport processes from nanoscale continuously to macroscale. Topics include the energy levels, the statistical behavior and internal energy, energy transport in the forms of waves and particles, scattering and heat generation processes, Boltzmann equation and derivation of classical laws, deviation from classical laws at nanoscale and their appropriate descriptions, with applications in nano- and microtechnology.

MECH371 or instructor’s consent

Attendance (20%), Homework (40 %), Final project (40 %)

1. Heat Transfer Physics, M. Kaviany, Cambridge, New York
2. Microscale Energy Transport, Tien, Majumdar, and Gerner, Taylor & Francis, 1998
3. Thermodynamics, Kinetic Theory and Statistical Thermodynamics, Sears and Salinger,
Addison-Wesley, 1986
4. Thermodynamics and an Introduction to Thermostatistics, H.B. Callen, John Wiley & Sons, 1985
5. Statistical Thermodynamics, C. L. Tien and J. H. Lienhhard, Hemisphere Publishing, 1979
6. Modern Physics, P.A. Tipler and R. A. Llwellyn, W. H. Freeman, New York, 2003
7. Introduction to Quantum Mechanics, D. J. Griffiths, Pearson Prentice Hall, 2004
8. Introduction to Solid State Physics, C. Kittel, John Wiley & Sons, 2004
9. Elementary Solid State Physics: Principles and Applications, M. Ali Omar,
Addison-Wesley, 1994
10. Principles of the Theory of Solids, J. M. Ziman, Cambridge University Press, 1979

1 Introduction to Nanotechnology and Nanoscale Transport Phenomena
2 Schrödinger Equation and Energy Quantization
3 Crystal Bonding and Electronic Energy Levels in Crystals
4 Phonons, Density of States and Statistical Distributions
5 Specific Heat and Fundamentals of Statistical Thermodynamics
6 Energy Transfer by Waves #1: Plane & Electromagnetic Waves
7 Energy Transfer by Waves #2: Thin films, Landauer Formalism
8 Midterm Week (No classes)
9 Particle Description: Boltzmann Equation & Carrier Scattering
10 Solutions to Boltzmann Equation, Electron Transport & Thermoelectric Effect
11 Classical Size Effects
12 Coupled Energy Transport & Conversion, P-N junction
13 Nanostructures for Energy Conversion
14 Liquids and Their Interfaces
15 Introduction to Molecular Dynamics Simulation
16 Final Week – Project due

- In the case of instructor's absence, on-line lectures will be provided via PLMS with a specified due date for attendance.
- Homework will be assigned approximately once in 2-3 weeks. Homework should be turned in before the due date. There will be penalty for late submission.
- The final project will comprise of a 5 page report on a research topic of your own choice (so long as it is related to the material taught in class.).
- Policies on academic dishonesty will be strictly enforced.