MSE 452 Phase Transformations and Evolving Microstructures in Hard and Soft Matter Systems: This course covers the fundamental principles of thermodynamics and phase transformation kinetics in hard and soft matter systems, such as metals and alloys, semiconductors, polymers, and lipid bilayer membranes. The course synthesizes descriptive observations, principles of statistical thermodynamics, and mathematical theories to address emergent physical, chemical, mechanical, and biological properties of multi-component, multiphase materials systems. M.P. Haataja
MSE 501 Introduction to Materials: Emphasizes the connection between microstructural features of materials (e.g., grain size, boundary regions between grains, defects) and their properties, and how processing conditions control structure. Topics include thermodynamics and phase equilibria, microstructure, diffusion, kinetics of phase transitions, nucleation and crystal growth, phase separation, spinodal decomposition, glass formation, and the glass transition. G.W. Scherer
MSE 504 Monte Carlo and Molecular Dynamics Simulation in Statistical Physics & Materials Science: This course examines methods for simulating matter at the atomistic scale with emphasis on the concepts that underline modern computational methodologies for classical many-body systems at or near statistical equilibrium. The course will cover Monte Carlo and Molecular Dynamics (from basics to advanced techniques). Extensions to quantum mechanical problems will be briefly discussed.
R. Car / A. Panagiotopoulos
MSE 505 Characterization of Materials: A multidisciplinary course offering a practical introduction to techniques of imaging and compositional analysis of advanced materials. Focus on principles and applications of various microscopy methods. Covered topics include AFM, SEM, TEM, EDX/WDX, EELS, sample preparation and image processes, etc. Hands-on experience is emphasized.
N. Yao
MSE 513/CHM 511/MAE 516 Introduction to Nanotechnology: This course will thus cover a broad range of subjects, with particular emphasis on characterization and control of materials at the nanoscale. The focus is on both the techniques necessary for scientific investigations at small dimensions, and the very latest research developments in this rapidly evolving area. Specific topics covered will include fundamentals of nanoscience, processing of nanomaterials, self-assembled nanostructures, bionanotechnology, graphene, nanoelectronics, size-scaling of properties, and nanodevice fabrication and testing. The course will also provide critical practice in scientific writing and presentation.
M. McAlpine
MSE 515/APC 515 Random Heterogeneous Materials: Composites, porous media, foams, colloidal suspensions, geological media, polymer blends, and biological media are all examples of heterogeneous materials. Often the microstructure of such materials is random. The relationship between the macroscopic (transport, mechanical, electromagnetic, and chemical) properties and microstructure of random heterogeneous materials is formulated. Topics include statistical characterization of the microstructure via n-point distribution functions; percolation theory; fractal concepts; sphere packings; Monte Carlo simulation techniques; and image analysis of microstructures; homogenization theory; effective-medium theories; cluster and perturbation expansions; variational bounding techniques; topology optimization methods; and cross-property relations. Biological and cosmological applications will be discussed.
S. Torquato
MSE 531 Introduction to Nano/Microfabrication: The course aims to introduce to students the basic technologies and knowledge of nano/microfabrication, and give them hands-on experiences in making nano/microstructures and handling sophisticated equipment. The course consists of four one-hour lectures (one per week), seven three-hour labs (one lab per week), and three experiments. Each student begins with a bare silicon wafer and ends with micro-structures consisting of resistors, capacitors, diodes, and transistors. Students learn and perform wafer cleaning, thermal oxidation of thin films, dopant diffusion, photolithography, chemical etching, metal thin-film evaporation, and related characterization methods.
C. L. Silvestre
The following departmental courses, in many instances offered by faculty affiliated with the Princeton Institute for the Science and Technology of Materials, are cross-listed with PRISM to indicate their substantial materials science content.
ELE 541/MSE 510 Electronic Materials: The science and technology of materials used in electronics and optoelectronics. Emphasis varies from year to year. Subjects include the growth of crystaJs and of thin films, vacuum technology, phase diagrams, defects and atomic diffusion in semiconductors, techniques for analyzing electronic materials, amorphous silicon, and materials for large-area electronics, displays, and solar cells. S. Wagner
ELE 551/MSE 511 Theory and Application of Photonic Materials and Devices: As a foundation in the principles of operation of semiconductor-based photonic devices. Topics include how system requirements have an impact on device design, semiconductor laser diode and photodiode physics, modulators, and optoelectronic and photonic-integrated circuits.
MAE 564/MSE 512 Structural Materials: Stress/strain behavior of materials; dislocation theory and strengthening mechanisms; yield strength; materials selection. Fundamentals of plasticity, Tresca and Von Mises yield criteria. Case study on forging: upper and lower bounds. Basic elements of fracture. Fracture mechanics. Mechanisms of fracture. The fracture toughness. Case studies and design. Fatigue mechanisms and life-prediction methodologies.
W. O. Soboyejo
CBE 544/MSE 514 Solid-State Properties of Polymers: Amorphous polymers, including modulus-temperature behavior, mechanical and dielectric measurements, the glass transition, and yielding and fracture in glassy polymers; sernicrystalline polymers, including crystal structure by X-ray diffraction; rheo-optical techniques and birefringence, dichroism, and fluorescence, small-angle scattering techniques, including light, X-ray, and neutron; and other multiphase and multicomponent polymers, including block and segmented polymers, blends, ionomers, and interpenetrating networks.
R. A. Register
PHY 525, 526/MSE 516, 517 Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics: In the fall semester the topics covered include electronic structure of crystals, phonons, transport and magnetic properties, screening in metals, and superconductivity. The spring semester focuses on "soft" condensed matter physics, including fluids, interfaces, membranes, polymers, liquid crystals, hydrodynamics, and dynamics of phase transitions.
A. Yazdani, S. L. Sondhi
CBE 531/MSE 530 Synthesis and Processing of Ceramic Matrix Composites: The course gives a comprehensive study of the processes used in synthesis and processing of ceramic composites. Three generic processing methodologies are contrasted: (1) powder consolidation and heat treatment (sintering), (2) conversion of molecular precursors (liquid or vapor) to ceramics, and (3) ceramic formation on organic templates. The objective is to provide a fundamental understanding of the processes for controlling the properties through nanostructural design.
I. A. Aksay
ELE 549/MSE 533 Physics and Technology of VLSI: This course will explore certain key topics in the fabrication of VLSI devices and integrated circuits. In the past this course has attempted to cover both the fabrication as well as device/scaling and design of advanced transistors in a single semester. This semester (Spring 03), the course will focus on fabrication techniques for VLSI and the underlying material science. Advanced device scaling design issues will first be reviewed to motivate required trends in device structures, followed by specific process topics. Processing topics to be covered include advanced effects in oxidation, diffusion, reactive ion etching, lithography, ion implantation, strain engineering, metallization, gettering, chemical and physical vapor deposition, and the role of point defects and surfaces in silicon on the above topics. The role and practice of the numerical simulation of processing (e.g. SUPREM) will also be introduced.
J. C. Sturm
CBE 541/MSE 534 Polymer Synthesis: Fundamentals and practice of polymer synthesis, both at the laboratory and in industrial scales. Mechanism, kinetics, and range of application of important polymerization methods: condensation, free-radical, anionic, cationic, coordination; polymerization thermodynamics; chemical reactions on polymers; selected industrial processes (e.g., polyesterification, emulsion polymerization, high- and low-pressure routes to polyethylene) are studied.
R. A. Register
MAE 516/MSE 540 Fracture Mechanics: Fracture involves processes at multiple time and length scales. This course covers the basic topics, including energy balance, crack tip fields, toughness, dissipation processes, and subcritical cracking. Fracture processes are then examined as they occur in some modern technologies, such as advanced ceramics, coatings, composites, and integrated circuits. The course also explores fracture at high temperatures and crack nucleation processes.
W. O. Soboyejo
GEO 501/MSE 541 Physics and Chemistry of Minerals and Materials: Concepts of solid-state physics and inorganic chemistry relevant to the study of minerals and materials. The emphasis is on applications to the study of planetary interiors. Topics include crystal chemistry; crystal structure and phase transitions; equations of state, dynamic, and static compression; elasticity; transport properties; lattice dynamics; lattice defects; and solid-state diffusion and creep.
T. S. Duffy 
