Despite the fact that quantum mechanics is not involved, many of the same kinds of issues arise as in electronic systems of how to characterize, understand, and predict the spatiotemporal structure of these systems. A line of height G is placed for each energy level in the dot. The conductance depends on the coupling of the wavefunction through the tunneling barrier to each lead. Fundamental interest in nanophysics stems from the ability to control and probe systems on length scales larger than atoms but small enough that the averaging inherent in bulk properties has not yet occurred. Using this ability, entirely unanticipated phenomena can be uncovered on the one hand, and the microscopic basis of bulk phenomena can be probed on the other.
Additional interest comes from the many links between nanophysics and nanotechnology.
One of Dr. Baranger's recent projects involves the interplay between quantum interference and electron-electron interactions in quantum dots. This project has lead to a secondary interest in wave-interference in all kinds of media, for example, the propagation of microwave signals inside buildings in connection with wireless communication. His recent work includes algebraic and computational studies in dynamic and static critical phenomena in quantum optics and magnetism. He is developing the coherent state functional integral method and applying it to many interesting problems in condensed matter physics and quantum optics. This approach uses group theory to simplify the daunting problem of evaluating real time - real temperature solutions in statistical mechanics.