Department of Aerospace Engineering

AE 420 | Course Introduction and Application Information

Course Name

Applications of Nanodevices in Space Engineering

Code	Semester	Theory (hour/week)	Application/Lab (hour/week)	Local Credits	ECTS
AE 420	FALL	3	0	3	5

Prerequisites	None
Course Language	English
Course Type	ELECTIVE_COURSE
Course Level	First Cycle
Mode of Delivery	Face-to-face
Teaching Methods and Techniques of the Course	-
National Occupational Classification Code	-
Course Coordinator	Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Fabrizio Pinto
Course Lecturer(s)	Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Fabrizio Pinto
Assistant(s)	-

Course Objectives

The aim of this course is to explore a broad suite of devices enabled by the interplay of various interactions on the nanoscale with particular attention to applications in next-generation small spacecraft, such as pico-satellites.

Learning Outcomes

The students who succeeded in this course;

Name	Description	PC Sub	* Contribution Level
Name	Description	PC Sub	1	2	3	4	5
LO1	Characterize the interactions that determine both performance and limitations of nanodevices, such as nanoactuation and stiction.					X
LO2	Identify the physical parameters that determine the details of the behavor of dispersion forces between surfaces, such as the dielectric function, surface roughness, and geometry.				X
LO3	Compute the effect of dispersion forces in device design so as to take advantage from these interactions on the nanoscale.					X
LO4	Import published material dielectric properties to compute dispersion forces in applicable operational regimes.				X
LO5	Program modern analytical and numerical computational algorithms to correctly model a variety of nanodevices and nanostructures playing key roles in pico-satellite architectures.					X

Course Description

This course uses various pedagogical strategies to justify the existence of dispersion forces, such as considering purely classical acoustic Casimir forces to shed light on the existence of more complex quantum electrodynamic Casimir forces.

Related Sustainable Development Goals

Course Category	Core Courses
	Major Area Courses	X
	Supportive Courses
	Media and Managment Skills Courses
	Transferable Skill Courses

WEEKLY SUBJECTS AND RELATED PREPARATION STUDIES

Week	Subjects	Required Materials	Learning Outcome
1	Introduction: From Feynman’s molasses in “There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom” to MEMS/NEMS, very elementary quantum mechanics; van der Waals forces and Casimir forces, classical and semiclassical models for interatomic forces.	R. P. Feynman, There's plenty of room at the bottom, 1, 60-66 (1992). A. Larraza, The force between two parallel rigid plates due to the radiation pressure of broadband noise: An acoustic Casimir effect, J. Acoust. Soc. Am., 103, 2267-2272 (1998). P. W. Milonni, Radiation pressure from the vacuum: Physical interpretation of the Casimir force, Phys. Rev. A, 38, 1621-1623 (1988).	LO1
2	Dispersion forces: From the Johansson blocks to gecko glue; examples of applications of nanotechnology in space; sensors, electronics, robotics, energy.	J. N. Israelachvili, Intermolecular and Surface Forces (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2011). ISBN: 9780123919274. L. Spruch, Retarded, or Casimir, Long-Range Potentials, Phys. Today, 39, 37-45 (1986).	LO2
3	Stiction; Maxwell equations; dispersion forces with dielectrics. Introduction to the Lifshitz theory. The proximity theorem; the classical experiments	E. Buks et al., Metastability and the Casimir effect in micromechanical systems, EPL, 57, 220-226 (2001). H. B. G. Casimir, On the attraction between two perfectly conducting plates, Proc. Kon. Ned. Akad. Wetenshap, 51, 793-795 (1948). W. Arnold et al., Influence of optical absorption on the Van der Waals interaction between solids, Phys. Rev. B, 19, 6049-6056 (1980).	LO2
4	Electrodynamical NEMS modeling with dispersion forces	J. G. Maclay et al., The anharmonic Casimir oscillator (ACO) - the Casimir effect in a model microelectromechanical system, J Microelectromech. Sys.,4, 193-205 (1995). J. A. Pelesko and D. H. Bernstein, Modeling MEMS and NEMS (Chapman and Hall/CRC, Boca Raton, 2003). ISBN: 978-1584883067.	LO3
5	From the Saturn V towards gram-class spacecraft	H. Helvajian, MEMS, Microengineering and Aerospace Systems, 30th Fluid Dynamics Conference, Fluid Dynamics and Co-located Conferences, AIAA 99-3802 (1999). J. A. Pelesko and D. H. Bernstein, Modeling MEMS and NEMS (Chapman and Hall/CRC, Boca Raton, 2003). ISBN: 978-1584883067.	LO3
6	Nano-sensors and nano-actuators: the AFM and Inertial navigation	G. Binnig et al., Atomic force microscope, Phys. Rev. Lett., 56, 930-933 (1986). K. E. Drexler, Nanosystems (John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, 1992). J. A. Pelesko and D. H. Bernstein, Modeling MEMS and NEMS (Chapman and Hall/CRC, Boca Raton, 2003). ISBN: 978-1584883067.	LO4
7	Dispersion force modulation nano-engines: illumination	W. Arnold et al., Influence of optical absorption on the Van der Waals interaction between solids, Phys. Rev. B, 19, 6049-6056 (1980). K. E. Drexler, Nanosystems (John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, 1992).	LO3
8	Midterm		-
9	Dispersion force manipulation: geometry, medium, and spectrum	J. A. Pelesko and D. H. Bernstein, Modeling MEMS and NEMS (Chapman and Hall/CRC, Boca Raton, 2003). ISBN: 978-1584883067.	LO5
10	Project 1		-
11	Nano-oscillators and parametric amplifiers	J. N. Israelachvili, Intermolecular and Surface Forces (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2011). ISBN: 9780123919274. K. E. Drexler, Nanosystems (John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, 1992).	LO5
12	Nanotubes and the NRAM		LO4
13	Nanotube oscillators, energy storage and the future	J. N. Israelachvili, Intermolecular and Surface Forces (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2011). ISBN: 9780123919274. K. E. Drexler, Nanosystems (John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, 1992).	LO4
14	Review		-
15	Project 2		-
16	Final		-

Course Notes/Textbooks

W. Arnold et al. Influence of optical absorption on the Van der Waals interaction between solids Phys. Rev. B 19 6049-6056 (1980)
G. Binnig et al. Atomic force microscope Phys. Rev. Lett. 56 930-933 (1986)
E. Buks et al. Metastability and the Casimir effect in micromechanical systems EPL 57 220-226 (2001)
H. B. G. Casimir On the attraction between two perfectly conducting plates Proc. Kon. Ned. Akad. Wetenshap 51 793-795 (1948)
K. E. Drexler Nanosystems (John Wiley & Sons Inc. New York 1992)
R. P. Feynman There's plenty of room at the bottom 1 60-66 (1992)
H. Helvajian MEMS Microengineering and Aerospace Systems 30th Fluid Dynamics Conference Fluid Dynamics and Co-located Conferences AIAA 99-3802 (1999)
J. N. Israelachvili Intermolecular and Surface Forces (Elsevier Amsterdam 2011)
Larraza The force between two parallel rigid plates due to the radiation pressure of broadband noise: An acoustic Casimir effect J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 103 2267-2272 (1998)
P. W. Milonni Radiation pressure from the vacuum: Physical interpretation of the Casimir force Phys. Rev. A 38 1621-1623 (1988)
J. G. Maclay et al. The anharmonic Casimir oscillator (ACO) - the Casimir effect in a model microelectromechanical system J Microelectromech. Sys. 4 193-205 (1995)
J. A. Pelesko and D. H. Bernstein Modeling MEMS and NEMS (Chapman and Hall/CRC Boca Raton 2003)
L. Spruch Retarded or Casimir Long-Range Potentials Phys. Today 39 37-45 (1986).

Suggested Readings/Materials

EVALUATION SYSTEM

Semester Activities	Number	Weighting	LO1	LO2	LO3	LO4	LO5
Project	2	40	X	X	X	X	X
Midterm	1	20	X	X	X
Final Exam	1	40	X	X	X	X	X
Total	4	100

ECTS / WORKLOAD TABLE

Semester Activities	Number	Duration (Hours)	Workload
Participation	-	-	-
Theoretical Course Hours	16	3	48
Laboratory / Application Hours	-	-	-
Study Hours Out of Class	14	3	42
Field Work	-	-	-
Quizzes / Studio Critiques	-	-	-
Portfolio	-	-	-
Homework / Assignments	-	-	-
Presentation / Jury	-	-	-
Project	2	14	28
Seminar / Workshop	-	-	-
Oral Exams	-	-	-
Midterms	1	14	14
Final Exam	1	18	18
		Total	150