Dr. Jie Zou

Department of Physics
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, IL 61920

Contact Information

• Office: Physical Science Building Room 1114
• Phone: (217) 581-6346
• Email:jzou@eiu.edu

Education

• Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, University of California at Riverside.
• M.S. in Astronomy, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Research Interests

• Thermal Management and Reliability of Nanodevices
  • Simulation and Modeling of Thermal Conductivity in Deep Sub-micron and Nanodevices
  • Reliability of Scaled-down Devices
• Investigation of Thermal Conductivity in GaN-based Semiconductor Devices
• First-Principle Computational Simulation of Thermal Conductivity of Semiconductor Nanostructures
  • Application of Molecular Dynamics Simulation

Recent Publications

• Jie Zou, "Thermal Transport in Gallium Nitride Materials and Heterostructures", Invited Review, Journal of Nanoelectronics and Optoelectronics, Submitted (2008).
• Jie Zou, "Calculation of phonon dispersion in semiconductor nanostructures: An undergraduate computational project", American Journal of Physics, 76, 460 (2007).
• Jie Zou, Xavier Lange*, and Chris Richardson*, "Lattice thermal conductivity of nanoscale AlN/GaN/AlN heterostructures: effects of partial phonon spatial confinement", Journal of Applied Physics, 100, 104309 (2006). *Undergraduate co-authors.

Undergraduate Research

Undergraduate Research Awards

• Daniel Rolando*, Undergraduate Research Grant ($500), Spring 2008, Undergraduate Research Council at EIU.
• Chris Richardson*, Undergraduate Research Grant ($500), Fall 2006, Undergraduate Research Council at EIU.
• Xavier Lange*, Undergraduate Research Grant ($500), Fall 2005, Undergraduate Research Council at EIU.
• Xavier Lange*, Scholar of Undergraduate Research at Eastern (SURE) Award, Spring 2006, College of Sciences at EIU. *: Mentee.

Undergraduate Projects in Computational Physics

• Project Title: Numerical Simulation of Thermal Conductivity in Nano-Scale Silicon Thin Films; Students: Xavier Lange; Period: Spring 05-Fall 06

  Using computer simulations, Xavier successfully calculated phonon dispersion, phonon group velocity, and thermal conductivity in silicon nanoscale thin films of various thicknesses. The effects of downscaling on heat conduction in such thin films are also analyzed. Xavier also participated in a Council on Faculty Research (CFR)-funded project in summer 2006 and contributed to our recent publication in the Journal of Applied Physics.

• Project Title: Heat Conduction in Nano-Scale AlN/GaN/AlN Hetero-Structures; Students: Chris Richardson and Bret Hash; Period: Spring 06-Fall 06

  Using the finite-difference numerical method, Chris successfully solved phonon dispersion in nanoscale AlN/GaN/AlN heterostructures. The obtained results are important for the calculation of the thermal conductivity in such semiconductor heterostructures. Chris was one of the two undergraduate students who participated in a Council on Faculty Research (CFR)-funded project in summer 2006 and contributed to our recent publication in the Journal of Applied Physics. Bret applied the finite-difference numerical method and solved the phonon dispersion in nanoscale silicon thin films. Bret participated in a poster presentation at the 17th Annual Illinois Student Research Conference in March 2006.

• Project Title: A microscopic study and computer visualization of the random walk of gas molecules: An application of molecular dynamics; Students: Daniel Rolando; Period: Fall 07-Spring 08

  The computational technique of Molecular Dynamics is applied to simulate and study the microscopic interactions, the random motions, and the kinetic theory of gases. The trajectory data will be animated into a movie to visualize the random motions of gas molecules.

• Project Title: Using Matlab to Help Students; Students: Kara Lovelace; Period: Fall 06

  Use MATLAB, a scientific computing software, to design computer simulations and animations, which can be used to help students visualize abstract concepts, such as the Fourier Analysis. Kara gave a presentation to the physics faculty and students reporting her results at the end of the fall 2006 semester.

Undergraduate Teaching

Classes Fall 2008

PHY 1071-Physics of Sound and Music

PHY 1071 Homework is due on Monday, 10/06/08:

Ch.20 (Hewitt), Exercises: #7, 28.

Ch.21 (Hewitt), Exercises: #5, 18, 19, 22.

• Syllabus
• Powerpoint Lecture Presentations

  08/25/08 (M) PPT PDF

  08/27/08 (W): Continue to finish Monday's lecture slides.

  08/29/08 (F) PPT PDF

  09/03/08 (W): Continue to discuss last Friday's material and finish Ch. 3.

  09/05/08 (F) PPT PDF

  09/08/08 (M): Continue to discuss last Friday's material and finish Ch. 4. Take Quiz #1.

  09/10/08 (W) PPT PDF: Discuss Ch. 5. Return and discuss Quiz #1. Hand out Practice Test #1.

  09/12/08 (F): Discuss Practice Test #1. Discuss Lab Report #2. Discuss some homework problems.

  09/15/08 (M): Take Hour Exam #1.

  09/17/08 (W) PPT PDF: Start Ch. 6. Return Hour Exam #1.

  09/19/08 (F) PPT PDF: Finish Ch. 6. Start Ch. 7.

  09/22/08 (M): Continue to discuss Ch. 7.

  09/24/08 (W) PPT PDF: Finish Ch. 7. Start Ch. 19.

  09/26/08 (F): Continue to finish Ch. 19. Take Quiz #2.

  09/29/08 (M) PPT PDF: Start Ch. 20.

  10/01/08 (W) PPT PDF: Continue to finish Ch. 20. Start Ch. 21. Hand out Practice Test #2.

  10/03/08 (F): Discuss Practice Test #2.

  10/06/08 (M): Take Hour exam #2.

PHY 1371-General Physics III

PHY 1371 Homework is due on Monday, 10/06/08:

Ch.37, Problems: #2, 13, 14, 15, 18.

• Syllabus
• Powerpoint Lecture Presentations

  08/25/08 (M) Ocean Waves Computer Modeling and Simulation

  08/27/08 (W): Continue to finish Monday's slides. Start a new lecture in Ch. 16.

  08/29/08 (F): Continue to finish Wednesday's slides. Start a new lecture and finish the rest of Ch. 16 if time allows.

  09/03/08 (W): Continue to finish last Friday's slides. Start a new lecture in Ch. 17.

  09/05/08 (F): Continue to finish Wednesday's slides. Start a new lecture in Ch. 17.

  09/08/08 (M) Project Examples: Continue to finish last Friday's slides. Start a new lecture in Ch. 18. Hand ou Quiz #1.

  09/010/08 (W): Continue to finish Monday's slides. Start a new lecture in Ch. 18. Turn in Quiz #1. Hand ou Practice Test #1. Hand out Computational Project #1.

  09/12/08 (F): Continue to finish Wednesday's slides. Discuss Practice Test #2.

  09/15/08 (M): Take Hour Exam #1.

  09/17/08 (W): Start Ch. 35.

  09/19/08 (F): Discuss a new lecture in Ch. 35.

  09/22/08 (M): Finish the rest of the slides from last Friday. Start Ch. 36.

  09/24/08 (W): Finish the rest of the slides from Monday. Start a new lecture in Ch. 36.

  09/26/08 (F): Finish the rest of the slides from Wednesday. Start a new lecture in Ch. 36.

  09/29/08 (M): Discussion of examples in Ch. 36.

  10/01/08 (W): Start Ch. 37.

  10/03/08 (F): Continue to finish Wednesday's slides. Then start a new lecture in Ch. 37.

  10/06/08 (M): Continue to discuss last Friday's slides and finish Ch. 37. If time allows, start Ch. 38.

PHY 4000-Seminar in Physics

• Syllabus

PHY 1072-Physics of Sound and Music Lab

• PHY 1072-001 Syllabus
• PHY 1072-002 Syllabus

Courses Taught

• PHY 1055-Principles of Astronomy and the Laboratory
• PHY 1071-Physics of Sound and Music and the Laboratory
• PHY 1151 and 1161-Principles of Physics I and II and the Laboratory (Algebra-based)
• PHY 1351, 1361, and 1371-General Physics I, II, and III and the Laboratory (Calculus-based)
• PHY 2600-Introductory Research in Physics
• PHY 3050-Excursions in Physics
• PHY 3320-Computational Methods in Physics and Engineering
• PHY 3500-Laboratory Practicum
• PHY 4600-Research in Physics

Last updated 10/03/08.