How much Quantum for nanoelectronics as an EE

[pjcircle]

Hi I was wondering how much quantum mechanics I should fit into my curriculum in order to to do research with nanoelectronics and optoelectronics in the future? At the moment I am an undergraduate working on both a BE and ME in Electrical Engineering at the same time (special scholars program) with that masters concentration in Photonics/Microelectronics. I do eventually plan on getting a PhD with research focused more in the nanoelectronics field. At the moment I can either only take an introductory quantum mechanics course or I can take that course along with the next level of quantum mechanics. The only problem with the later version is that I would need to take a prelim course in intro to mechanics which would be a completely extra class that wouldn't go towards either of my degrees. I was wondering if its worth going with the second choice even if it means the extra grad class (i take approx 20ish creds a semester and this would make it about 23). I will list the textbooks below that the two quantum classes use for a guideline to the material covered and the intro to mechanics course pretty much covers hamiltonians, lagrangians tensors etc.
Intro to quantum course: Introductory quantum mechanics, Liboff
Next level quantum course: Gottfried, Quantum Mechanics, Schiff, Quantum Mechanics

I guess the more general question I am getting at is just how involved are the electrical engineers researching in this field involved directly with the physics that have to do with these new nano-devices (quantum dots etc.) or is the role of the EE in this field researching ways for these new devices to actually be used so just understanding how they work will be enough?

 

[playoff]

Is the mechanics course truly required for your degree? If not, my vote goes for taking an introductory quantum course instead.

Quantum mechanics, to my knowledge, is very important in modern electrical engineering research. In my school's EE department, a lot of people research in semiconductor/nanoelectronics, which involves great amount of quantum (a lot of professors in fact has physics background). There is even a professor who has a BS, MS, and a PhD in electrical engineering, but is widely renowned for his work in semiconductor physics and is labeled a physicist in his books, etc...