Explore the fundamental physics of thermal energy at the nanoscale through this comprehensive five-week online course that develops a unified framework for understanding essential nanoscale thermal phenomena and their applications. Master lattice structures by examining atomic bonding, mathematical descriptions of lattices, lattice vibrations, phonons, and free electrons through practical examples like 1D diatomic chains. Delve into carrier statistics covering statistical ensembles, phonon and electron density of states, Planck's law, and blackbody emission intensity. Analyze basic thermal properties including acoustic and optical phonon specific heat, electron specific heat, and thermal conductivity fundamentals. Study the Landauer transport formalism to understand basic theory, number of modes, thermal conductance, spectral conductance, and the quantum of thermal conductance. Investigate carrier scattering mechanisms through scattering analysis, boundary and defect scattering, phonon-phonon interactions, interfacial transmission, and thermionic electron emission. Each week features six 20-minute video lectures that cover essential physics principles, practical considerations, simulation models, and fundamental limits, providing graduate-level instruction accessible to learners worldwide without admission requirements.

Syllabus

nanoHUB-U Thermal Energy at the Nanoscale L1.1: Lattice Structure - Introduction and Atomic Bonding
nanoHUB-U Thermal Energy at the Nanoscale L1.2: Lattice Structure - Mathematic Descr. of the Lattice
nanoHUB-U Thermal Energy at the Nanoscale L1.3: Lattice Structure - Lattice Vibrations and Phonons
nanoHUB-U Thermal Energy at the Nanoscale L1.4: Lattice Structure - Free Electrons
nanoHUB-U Thermal Energy at the Nanoscale L1.5: Lattice Structure - Example - 1D Diatomic Chain
nanoHUB-U Thermal Energy at the Nanoscale L1.6: Lattice Structure - Week 1 Wrap Up
nanoHUB-U Thermal Energy at the Nanoscale L2.1: Carrier Statistics - Statistical Ensembles
nanoHUB-U Thermal Energy at the Nanoscale L2.2: Carrier Statistics - Phonon Density of States
nanoHUB-U Thermal Energy at the Nanoscale L2.3: Carrier Statistics - Electron Density of States
nanoHUB-U Thermal Energy at the Nanoscale L2.4: Carrier Statistics - Planck's Law
nanoHUB-U Thermal Energy at the Nanoscale L2.5: Carrier Statistics - Blackbody Emission Intensity
nanoHUB-U Thermal Energy at the Nanoscale L2.6: Carrier Statistics - Week 2 Wrap Up
nanoHUB-U Thermal Energy at the Nanoscale L3.1: Basic Thermal Properties - Basic Thermal Properties
nanoHUB-U Thermal Energy at the Nanoscale L3.2: Basic Thermal Properties - Acoustic Phonon Sp. Heat
nanoHUB-U Thermal Energy at the Nanoscale L3.3: Basic Thermal Properties - Optical Phonon Sp. Heat
nanoHUB-U Thermal Energy at the Nanoscale L3.4: Basic Thermal Properties - Electron Specific Heat
nanoHUB-U Thermal Energy at the Nanoscale L3.5: Basic Thermal Properties - Thermal Conductivity
nanoHUB-U Thermal Energy at the Nanoscale L3.6: Basic Thermal Properties - Week 3 Wrap Up
nanoHUB-U Thermal Energy at the Nanoscale L4.1: Landauer Transport Formalism - Basic Theory
nanoHUB-U Thermal Energy at the Nanoscale L4.2: Landauer Transport Formalism - Number of Modes
nanoHUB-U Thermal Energy at the Nanoscale L4.3: Landauer Transport Formalism - Thermal Conductance
nanoHUB-U Thermal Energy at the Nanoscale L4.4: Landauer Transport Formalism - Spectral Conductance
nanoHUB-U Thermal Energy at the Nanoscale L4.5: Landauer Transport - Quantum of Thermal Conductance
nanoHUB-U Thermal Energy at the Nanoscale L4.6: Landauer Transport Formalism - Week 4 Wrap-up
nanoHUB-U Thermal Energy at the Nanoscale L5.1: Carrier Scattering - Scattering Analysis
nanoHUB-U Thermal Energy at the Nanoscale L5.2: Carrier Scattering - Boundary and Defect Scattering
nanoHUB-U Thermal Energy at the Nanoscale L5.3: Carrier Scattering - Phonon-Phonon Scattering
nanoHUB-U Thermal Energy at the Nanoscale L5.4: Carrier Scattering - Interfacial Transmission
nanoHUB-U Thermal Energy at the Nanoscale L5.5: Carrier Scattering - Thermionic Electron Emission
nanoHUB-U Thermal Energy at the Nanoscale L5.6: Carrier Scattering - Week 5 Wrap Up