Insights on magnetic and semiconducting nanostructures

1) Magnetism at the nanoscale:
a. Orbital and spin magnetic moment: from single atoms to 3D clusters
b. Measuring orbital and spin moments: x-ray magnetic circular dichroism
c. Intra- and inter-atomic exchange
d. Surface supported nanostructures: the effect of the supporting substrate on the nanostructure magnetic properties
e. Superparamagnetic limit in magnetic data storage
f. Quantum effects and spin dynamics in isolated atoms

 

2) Spintronics:
a. Spin transport: spin valve, GMR and TMR
b. Observing and controlling the magnetism of a single atom with a Scanning Tunnelling Microscope

 

3) Semiconductor quantum wells, a seminal example of quantum confinement:
a. Physics of electron and hole energy levels
b. Beyond the one-electron picture: case of excitons (binding energy, oscillator strength, optical matrix elements)
c. Excitonic and biexcitonic features in GaAs/AlGaAs QWs, transverse and longitudinal Stark effect

 

4) Optoelectronic properties of quantum dots:
a. Quantum confinement effects (from 2D to 0D)
b. Electronic states: specific features of single dots, excitonic complexes (excitons, biexcitons)
c. Biexciton-exciton cascade and single photon emission (2nd order correlation function)
d. Light-matter interaction with quantum dots: quantum dots in cavities; requirements for the Purcell effect