Question

5. Essay on Quantum Mechanics (40 pts)
In this problem, you will need to write down your short essay on quantum
mechanics. You’re NOT allowed to discuss this problem with your classmates or instructor:
therefore, your answer here should be unique, and be NOT even similar to that of others. Just
think by yourself and freely state what you learned and how you feel about quantum mechanics
now. You may want to include the following specific topics in your essay.
- How has your level of understanding of quantum mechanics changed throughout the course?
- What key elements of quantum mechanics you think you learned and understood?
- How will you relate this quantum mechanics knowledge to your future career (research, job
search, etc.) or real life?

Answer 1

Quantum Mechanics is the foundation of the nanotechnology. We are the living in the era that demands high computing power from single chip and so reducing device dimension is the only way to accomplish this demand of ever increasing computing need. As the device dimension reduces classical theories of current conduction start to fail and incorporation of quantum mechanics to model device current conduction behavior becomes a necessity. Apart from this quantum mechanics is also useful for measuring heat current and spin current of nano devices.

The difference between classical mechanics and quantum mechanics lies in taking into account the effect of matter wave associated with particle. When a classical particle faces a barrier it just stops, but quantum mechanics says the particle has finite probability of crossing the barrier and the probability of crossing the barrier depends upon the momentum of the particle and width of the barrier. We learned shrodinger euation and calculated wave vector $\Psi$ for 1d,2d,3d infinite potential box and finite potential box.

I would like to implement this quantum mechanics knowledge for investigating spin current in single electron transistor and heat current in nano heat sinks.