Introductory notes:

These web module are intended for use by any individual interested in learning more about Nanotechnology, in general, and characterization tools, quantum dots, and molecular electronics in particular. The level of these modules is aimed at a second-year college student in the United States. All of the material in thse modules and their connecting pages (on imaging and introductory quantum mechanics), unless otherwise noted, were developed by S. Maleki at Union College, Schenectady New York 12308; supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NUE- PHY-0304105). These modules are open and free to all users for any non-for-profit activities, especially in education. Users do not need to obtain any permission to use these web modules or any portion of it in any way they see fit; but their feedback would be greatly appreciated and will be used to improve future editions of these modules. These modules were created as part of a web-book for a sophomore-level course on nanotechnology. Special credit goes to Ted Simons, who created the animations (SEM & 1D-well). I wold also like to thank my colleague,s Jay Newman, and Beck Koopmann as well as their students for their many useful suggestions. Finally, I would like to thank Union College's CT program, and its Director, Professor Doug Klein, for their continuing support of interdeciplinary course evelopment.

What's a web-book?

A web-book is a collection of web-pages, like an electronic book, along with web-links. Similar to a conventional book it is mostly text based. The text part of the book could be printed and read just as one reads a conventional paperbound book. In addition to text a web-book may contain interactive simulations (applets) and/or animated images. Of course, unlike the text portion, these sections of the web-book could only be explored electronically. But the most important difference between a web-book and a conventional paper type is that the web-book could be made "alive". Because of its electronic format, a web-book could get modified as it is being used. In this sense the web-book is not the product of the author alone, but of the reader too.

An easy way of modifying this web-book is for you to copy and paste it into your own application program (use a web authoring program or just a word processor). For example, you could copy and paste answer portions of the text just under an individual question. You could also search the web for additions/alternative explanations, etc. and embed these into this web-book to create your own. Finally, you could modify the "looks" of the book by eliminating/adding your own choice of art work. All in all, you can create what best suites your needs/pleasures.

In terms of credit or copy rights, you should feel free to use and modify any portion of my web-book without concerns about copy rights or "credits". All of this is "free"! I would, however, very much appreciate it if you would e-mail me (malekis@union.edu) with any and all of your input.

I have designed these pages so that when you print the pages you end up with the text and relevant images. The photographs and the "side information" that appear on the right side of the text portion on the pages will not print out. You could print these separately, if you like. These images serve two purposes. First, they act as visual markers that may help with remembering concepts , by associating them with unrelated images, or just the "location" of the page. Second, they break the monotony of the text. Enjoy them!

Last Modifeied August 13, 2005 malekis@union.edu