Welcome

Please visit the Research Group page for current information on students and their projects.

The Publications page contains links to reprints or preprints of most of the recent articles and many earlier ones, in pdf format.

Quantum Mechanics Book:

This introductory quantum mechanics text is now being published by Cambridge University Press. It is intended both for physicists and for those from other scientific and engineering disciplines, including electrical and mechanical engineering, materials science, and nanotechnology. The level of presentation is suitable for junior undergraduates through graduate students to technical professionals. Requirements for both physics and math are minimized, and the necessary background in these areas is summarized in appendices. Core topics are covered, the quantum mechanics for key areas of application in electronic and optical devices is explained, and advanced techniques and areas, such as the quantum mechanics of light and quantum information, are introduced.

This is the textbook for both the EE222 and EE223 (Applied Quantum Mechanics I & II) classes at Stanford.

Recent Hot Topics:

Fundamental limit to optical components

We have derived an upper bound to the possible performance of linear optical components of given sizes and maximum dielectric constants. (Most downloaded article from all OSA journals other than Optics Express, October 2007)

See also the Physical Review Letter on a general limit to one-dimensional slow light structures and a brief summary in Optics and Photonics News "Optics in 2007"

Nanometallic-enhanced photodetectors

We have demonstrated that nanometallic structures can enhance photodetection, promising very low capacitance optoelectronic devices compatible in size with CMOS transistors. A nanoscale C-shaped aperture in a metal can enhance the photocurrent in the semiconductor beneath it, and recently an optical analog of a Hertz dipole antenna concentrates light to a ~ 100 nm sized germanium detector element on a silicon substrate.

Quantum-confined Stark effect in germanium quantum wells

A new modulation mechanism for silicon-compatible optics, promising low energy devices for optical interconnects. See the Nature letter, a longer JSTQE paper on the original observations, the first modulator, a low-voltage C-band modulator, and a recent JSTQE paper on the detailed physics.

And, for something different

How to become invisible!

See also a brief introduction to this invisibility at http://newsroom.spie.org/x5923.xml?highlight=x535

Research Interests

Use of optics in switching, interconnection, computing and sensing systems.
Dense optical interconnection to silicon electronics.
Physics and applications of quantum well and nanophotonic optics and optoelectronics.
Fundamental features and limits for optics in communications and information processing.
 

See also the Chip Scale Surface Plasmon Enabled Nano Structures MURI web page

Address and Contact Information

Prof. David A. B. Miller
Ginzton Laboratory
450 Via Palou
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-4088
650-723-0111
650-723-0206 secretary
dabm@ee.stanford.edu

 Site updated Sept. 9, 2008