Course Catalogue

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The course will cover the fundamentals of the materials used in many current quantum technologies, such as Si/Ge, 2D materials, heterostructures, engineered defects in semiconductors and topological materials. In addition, the course will cover the structure and scattering of these materials and the bottom-up approach that is commonly employed to make them. Key aspects relating to surfaces, interfaces, and the subtle relations behind phenomena, e.g. the quantum Hall effect, will be presented and discussed.

Two lecture per week and one tutorial per week

Mandatory Entry Requirements

None

Recommended Entry Requirements

None

None

None

30% set tutorial exercise.

70% closed-book final exam (90 minutes).

The focus of this course is to introduce students to the materials challenges at the core of many current quantum technologies. We take a bottom-up approach in manufacturing those materials and using surface-interface physics we aim to reach a comprehensive look at systems like engineered defects in semiconductors, 2D materials, topological materials, and semiconductor heterostructures. Such materials are key for many branches of modern research like nanoscience, as the electronics and photonics properties of nanostructures are largely determined by the material composition, their surfaces, and interfaces. 

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Identify and explain structure and electronic properties of key quantum materials such as 2D crystals, alloys, optical active defects, heterostructures, and optical fibers.

■ Explain the current bottom-up techniques to make quantum materials like Si/Ge, quantum dots, 2D materials.

■ Demonstrate broad understanding of the electronic surface structure.

■ Use various type of heterostructures in the context of quantum technologies.

■ Explain the relevance of topological arguments at the core of topological materials and phenomena like quantum hall effect.

■ Explain, discuss, and read the most recent research literature on materials for quantum devices.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.

Students should attend at least 75% of the timetabled classes of the course.

Note that these are minimum requirements: good students will achieve far higher participation/submission rates.  Any student who misses an assessment or a significant number of classes because of illness or other good cause should report this by completing a MyCampus absence report.