Education

The nextnano software can be used to study basic Quantum Mechanics text book examples. It can thus be used for teaching in classes.

• Black body spectrum
• 1D, 2D and 3D Schrödinger equation for arbitrary potential energy profiles
• Infinite quantum well
• Finite quantum well
• Quantum harmonic oscillator
• Triangular quantum well
• Double quantum well
• Matrix elements and selection rules
• Expectation value
• Perturbation theory
• Tunneling: Transmission function of potential step, potential barrier, quantum well and double barrier
• Periodic structures: Superlattice
• Energy bands
• Band structure (Tight-binding)
• ... more examples will be added soon.

A preliminary handout containing some nextnano examples is available. (Version 2016-05-11)

Empirical tight-binding (sp³s^*) band structure of GaAs, GaP, AlAs, InAs, C (diamond) and Si

What you can learn:

• tight-binding band structure of bulk semiconductors

Dispersion in infinite superlattices: Minibands (Kronig-Penney model)

What you can learn:

• Schrödinger equation in 1D with periodic boundary conditions
• superlattice dispersion
• band structure of an artificial crystal (quantum well crystal)

Triangular well

What you can learn:

• Energy levels and wave functions of a triangular quantum well
• Schrödinger equation

Double quantum well

What you can learn:

• Energy levels and wave functions of a double quantum well as a function of quantum well separation (barrier width)
• Schrödinger equation
• Template feature of nextnanomat

Schottky Barrier

What you can learn:

• Metal-semiconductor interface: Fermi-level pinning; Ohmic contact vs. Schottky contact vs. Surface charge density vs. Surface doping
• Poisson equation

Example 1: GaAs pn junction (forward bias)

What you can learn:

• doping
• Poisson equation
• apply a bias, drift-diffusion calculation, recombination
• Current-Poisson equation

Optical interband transitions in a quantum well - Matrix elements and selection rules

What you can learn:

• Energy levels and wave functions of an infinite and finite quantum well, interband transition matrix elements (spatial wave function overlap), selection rules
• Schrödinger equation

Hole energy levels of an "artificial atom" - Spherical Si Quantum Dot (6-band k.p)

What you can learn:

• 3D simulation, quantum dot, spin-orbit splitting, artificial atom
• 6-band k.p Schrödinger equation in 3D