Recent room temperature observations of lasing, excitonic absorption peaks, and blue LEDs in wide-gap H-VI semi conductor multiple quantum wells (MQWs) provide great promise for unique device applications. A good understanding of the physical mechanisms necessary to account for these recent observations could be extremely important for future device applications. The present CdZnTe/ZnTe system has intriguing properties -alloy quantum wells and strained layers. Nevertheless, excellent sample quality is indicated by a very small Stokes shifts of the photoluminescence (PL) with respect to the PL excitation spectrum (PLE) and narrow absorption linewidths. Furthermore, well-defined room temperature absorption peaks are observed for a wide range of Cd concentrations and well-widths. This offers large flexibility in the choice and composition of materials for better bandgap engineering.

Since its inception in 1966, the series of numbered volumes known as Semiconductors and Semimetals has distinguished itself through the careful selection of well-known authors, editors, and contributors. The Willardson and Beer series, as it is widely known, has succeeded in producing numerous landmark volumes and chapters. Not only did many of these volumes make an impact at the time of their publication, but they continue to be well-cited years after their original release. Recently, Professor Eicke R. Weber of the University of California at Berkeley joined as a co-editor of the series. Professor Weber, a well-known expert in the field of semiconductor materials, will further contribute to continuing the series' tradition of publishing timely, highly relevant, and long-impacting volumes. Some of the recent volumes, such as Hydrogen in Semiconductors, Imperfections in III/V Materials, Epitaxial Microstructures, High-Speed Heterostructure Devices, Oxygen in Silicon, and others promise that this tradition will be maintained and even expanded.