Abstract
In meso/nanoscopic systems three significant issues are of pivotalimportance: (i) due to the smallness of their size, quantum effects arecrucial, (ii) for the same reason, the surface-to-volume ratio is largeand this characteristic feature induces certain unique and fascinatingeffects, and (iii) the system remains in active contact with itsenvironment, which induces a variety of novel properties. In view of theenormity of this subject, we shall limit our discussions to certainessential and fundamental science, with a number of non-trivial examples.We shall highlight current activity on various issues mainly related toelectron transport in meso/nano systems. Models relevant to the latterhave some real application to molecular electronics.
