Provides a modern introduction to semiconductor physics, presentingthe basic information necessary to understand semiconductors, alongwith some of the latest theories and developments. Based on theauthor's undergraduate course, this book bridges the gap betweenbasic subjects such as quantum mechanics and Maxwell's equationsand the fundamental processes determining the behaviour ofsemiconductors. Following a quantum mechanics approach this text ispredominantly aimed at scientists rather then engineers, and formsthe basis for the understanding of modern mesoscopic physics insemiconductors and quantum devices like resonant tunnelingdiodes. Rather than attempting to comprehensively cover all aspects ofsemiconductor physics, this text aims to cover the most importantand interesting aspects of this subject to scientists. Startingwith the development of semiconductor physics from basic quantummechanics, the text moves on to cover band structure and effectivemass theory, before covering electron-phonon coupling and chargetransport. It concludes with a chapter on optical transitions.Students will need some knowledge of quantum mechanics and solidstate although this is covered to some extent in the book. FEATURES * Concise introduction to the basics of semiconductor physics * Bridges the gap between fundamental subjects such as quantummechanics and Maxwell's equations and the processes determining thebehaviour of semiconductors * Describes semiconductor theory from a full quantum mechanicalapproach.An accessible introduction, avoiding reliance on grouptheory CONTENTS: Preface; Notation Conventions; Introduction; Electrons,nuclei and Hamiltonians; Band Structure; The k - p Approximation;Effective Mass Theory; The Crystal Lattice; Electron-phononCoupling; Charge Transport, Optical Transitions; Band Electrons inan Optical Field; Appendix A: The Hydrogen Atom; Appendix B: TheHarmonic Oscillator; Appendix C: Perturbation Theory; AppendixD:Tensors in Cubic Crystals; Appendix E: The Classical Limit;Appendix F: Some Fourier Transforms; Appendix G: Exercises;Bibliography.

Excellent bridge between general solid-state physics textbook and research articles packed with providing detailed explanations of the electronic, vibrational, transport, and optical properties of semiconductors "The most striking feature of the book is its modern outlook ... provides a wonderful foundation. The most wonderful feature is its efficient style of exposition ... an excellent book." Physics Today "Presents the theoretical derivations carefully and in detail and gives thorough discussions of the experimental results it presents. This makes it an excellent textbook both for learners and for more experienced researchers wishing to check facts. I have enjoyed reading it and strongly recommend it as a text for anyone working with semiconductors ... I know of no better text ... I am sure most semiconductor physicists will find this book useful and I recommend it to them." Contemporary Physics Offers much new material: an extensive appendix about the important and by now well-established, deep center known as the DX center, additional problems and the solutions to over fifty of the problems at the end of the various chapters.

The 4th edition of this highly successful textbook features copious material for a complete upper-level undergraduate or graduate course, guiding readers to the point where they can choose a specialized topic and begin supervised research. The textbook provides an integrated approach beginning from the essential principles of solid-state and semiconductor physics to their use in various classic and modern semiconductor devices for applications in electronics and photonics. The text highlights many practical aspects of semiconductors: alloys, strain, heterostructures, nanostructures, amorphous semiconductors, and noise, which are essential aspects of modern semiconductor research but often omitted in other textbooks. This textbook also covers advanced topics, such as Bragg mirrors, resonators, polarized and magnetic semiconductors, nanowires, quantum dots, multi-junction solar cells, thin film transistors, and transparent conductive oxides. The 4th edition includes many updates and chapters on 2D materials and aspects of topology. The text derives explicit formulas for many results to facilitate a better understanding of the topics. Having evolved from a highly regarded two-semester course on the topic, The Physics of Semiconductors requires little or no prior knowledge of solid-state physics. More than 2100 references guide the reader to historic and current literature including original papers, review articles and topical books, providing a go-to point of reference for experienced researchers as well.

A detailed description of the basic physics of semiconductors. All the important equations describing the properties of these materials are derived without the help of other textbooks. The reader is assumed to have only a basic command of mathematics and some elementary semiconductor physics. The text covers a wide range of important semiconductor phenomena, from the simple to the advanced.

The Third Edition of the standard textbook and reference in the field of semiconductor devices This classic book has set the standard for advanced study and reference in the semiconductor device field. Now completely updated and reorganized to reflect the tremendous advances in device concepts and performance, this Third Edition remains the most detailed and exhaustive single source of information on the most important semiconductor devices. It gives readers immediate access to detailed descriptions of the underlying physics and performance characteristics of all major bipolar, field-effect, microwave, photonic, and sensor devices. Designed for graduate textbook adoptions and reference needs, this new edition includes: A complete update of the latest developments New devices such as three-dimensional MOSFETs, MODFETs, resonant-tunneling diodes, semiconductor sensors, quantum-cascade lasers, single-electron transistors, real-space transfer devices, and more Materials completely reorganized Problem sets at the end of each chapter All figures reproduced at the highest quality Physics of Semiconductor Devices, Third Edition offers engineers, research scientists, faculty, and students a practical basis for understanding the most important devices in use today and for evaluating future device performance and limitations. A Solutions Manual is available from the editorial department.

Physics of Semiconductor Devices covers both basic classic topics such as energy band theory and the gradual-channel model of the MOSFET as well as advanced concepts and devices such as MOSFET short-channel effects, low-dimensional devices and single-electron transistors. Concepts are introduced to the reader in a simple way, often using comparisons to everyday-life experiences such as simple fluid mechanics. They are then explained in depth and mathematical developments are fully described. Physics of Semiconductor Devices contains a list of problems that can be used as homework assignments or can be solved in class to exemplify the theory. Many of these problems make use of Matlab and are aimed at illustrating theoretical concepts in a graphical manner.

This book is an introduction to the principles of semiconductor physics, linking its scientific aspects with practical applications. It is addressed to both readers who wish to learn semiconductor physics and those seeking to understand semiconductor devices. It is particularly well suited for those who want to do both.Intended as a teaching vehicle, the book is written in an expository manner aimed at conveying a deep and coherent understanding of the field. It provides clear and complete derivations of the basic concepts of modern semiconductor physics. The mathematical arguments and physical interpretations are well balanced: they are presented in a measure designed to ensure the integrity of the delivery of the subject matter in a fully comprehensible form. Experimental procedures and measured data are included as well. The reader is generally not expected to have background in quantum mechanics and solid state physics beyond the most elementary level. Nonetheless, the presentation of this book is planned to bring the student to the point of research/design capability as a scientist or engineer. Moreover, it is sufficiently well endowed with detailed knowledge of the field, including recent developments bearing on submicron semiconductor structures, that the book also constitutes a valuable reference resource.In Chapter 1, basic features of the atomic structures, chemical nature and the macroscopic properties of semiconductors are discussed. The band structure of ideal semiconductor crystals is treated in Chapter 2, together with the underlying one-electron picture and other fundamental concepts. Chapter 2 also provides the requisite background of the tight binding method and the k.p-method, which are later used extensively. The electron states of shallow and deep centers, clean semiconductor surfaces, quantum wells and superlattices, as well as the effects of external electric and magnetic fields, are treated in Chapter 3. The one- or multi-band effective mass theory is used wherever this method is applicable. A summary of group theory for application in semiconductor physics is given in an Appendix. Chapter 4 deals with the statistical distribution of charge carriers over the band and localized states in thermodynamic equilibrium. Non-equilibrium processes in semiconductors are treated in Chapter 5. The physics of semiconductor junctions (pn-, hetero-, metal-, and insulator-) is developed in Chapter 6 under conditions of thermodynamic equilibrium, and in Chapter 7 under non-equilibrium conditions. On this basis, the most important electronic and opto-electronic semiconductor devices are treated, among them uni- and bi-polar transistors, photodetectors, solar cells, and injection lasers. A summary of group theory for applications in semiconductors is given in an Appendix.

This book describes the basic physics of semiconductors, including the hierarchy of transport models, and connects the theory with the functioning of actual semiconductor devices. Details are worked out carefully and derived from the basic physics, while keeping the internal coherence of the concepts and explaining various levels of approximation. Examples are based on silicon due to its industrial importance. Several chapters are included that provide the reader with the quantum-mechanical concepts necessary for understanding the transport properties of crystals. The behavior of crystals incorporating a position-dependent impurity distribution is described, and the different hierarchical transport models for semiconductor devices are derived (from the Boltzmann transport equation to the hydrodynamic and drift-diffusion models). The transport models are then applied to a detailed description of the main semiconductor-device architectures (bipolar, MOS). The final chapters are devoted to the description of some basic fabrication steps, and to measuring methods for the semiconductor-device parameters.

This text aims to provide the fundamentals necessary to understand semiconductor device characteristics, operations and limitations. Quantum mechanics and quantum theory are explored, and this background helps give students a deeper understanding of the essentials of physics and semiconductors.