PhD-position: THEORY AND MODELING FOR NANOTECHNOLOGY Within the perspective of the upcoming post-CMOS era, novel generations of nanosized electronic devices and nanostructures are expected either to replace or to complement today’s field effect transistors and related devices. While the exploitation of quantum mechanical effects will be crucial to the working principles of these new devices, the underlying physics is far from being understood. Moreover, huge research efforts are to be initiated to acquire all qualitative and quantitative knowledge required to predict the behavior and the potential of the new structures, such as quantum dots, nanowires, carbon nanotubes and many others. The present research proposal aims at a thorough theoretical study of the mesoscopic physics governing the electronic and electro-optical properties as well as the electronic transport characteristics of low-dimensional semiconductors or metallic structures that may act as the active areas of future nanodevices. In this light, the following non-exhaustive list of investigation topics is proposed :  the electronic structure of free-standing nanowires (with application to silicon), including the calculation of subband ladders and the corresponding wave functions in terms of the device geometry;  the electronic structure of embedded nanowires (with application to silicon devices), including wave function spill-over effects, interface and contact barriers, dielectric mismatches and, more general, a revised definition of the band structure concept taking the influence of the surrounding material into account; the low-dimensional features of phonon spectra, electon-phonon interaction and energy dissipation events; the electron-hole interaction (excitons) and the optical properties of nanowires; the derivation and solution of an appropriate set of kinetic quantum transport equations; in particular the calculation of the electric charge, current and energy densities emerging as response functions reflecting the effect of an externally applied electromagnetic field. Being a member of the UA physics department, the PhD candidate will perform his research in close collaboration and interaction with the QDM group in IMEC. He/she will also be granted access to relevant experimental results obtained by the experimental groups in IMEC that are involved in the IMEC Industrial Affiliation Program on Nanotechnology for the Post-CMOS Era. WHEN: position is open and the candidate can start immediately DURATION: 2x2 years APPLY: send curriculum vitae with list of computer skills and two reference letters to: francois.peeters@ua.ac.be PhD/Postdoc positions: Theoretical study of non-linear dynamics of magnetic flux in nano-structured superconductors, colloids and nanoclusters In the framework of the research project: “Nonlinear Dynamics in Nanosystems: Flux Quanta in Nanostructured Superconductors, Colloids, Nanoclusters” funded by “Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek – Vlaanderen (FWO-Vl)” within the “Odysseus” program (see: http://www.fwo.be/en/FWOOdysseus.aspx), PhD/Postdoctoral positions will be available (starting from beginning of 2008), in the newly created group “ND-NANO” (team leader: Dr. V.R. Misko) at the Condensed Matter Theory (CMT) laboratory (head: Prof. Dr. F.M. Peeters) at the Physics Department of the University of Antwerpen (UA). The research is devoted to the in-depth study of the nonlinear dynamics of flux quanta in Nano-structured superconductors (NSSC) and includes several related and interdisciplinary topics. Main targets of the research, the candidate will be involved in, include: Implementation of new approaches to study the nonlinear dynamics of magnetic flux quanta in NSSC and the creation of new efficient ways to control the flux motion and critical parameters of NSSC; The understanding of the nonlinear dynamics of antivortices in NSSC; The understanding and calculation of the behavior of the critical temperature on the size and shape of superconducting nanograins; The study off the nonlinear dynamics and the principles of self-assembly of colloidal binary mixtures; The understanding of the growth kinetics of nanoclusters, influence of the environment, surface formation, etc. The candidate is expected to have a background in theoretical studies of vortex matter in superconductors and/or nonlinear dynamics and/or nanoclusters, and experience in numerical simulations. The research involves collaborations with experimental groups, and thus abilities to work with experimentalists and interpret experimental results, as well as good communications skills, are a plus. Interested candidate should send a letter of application, CV, list of publications, and names of 2 to 3 referees (letters of recommendation could be requested later) to: Dr. V.R. Misko, Condensed Matter Theory, Department of Physics, University of Antwerpen, Tel: +32-(0)3-265.34.84, Fax: +32-(0)3-265.35.42, Email: Vyacheslav.Misko@ua.ac.be