The composition of modern semiconductor heterostructures can be controlled precisely on the atomic scale to create low-dimensional systems. These systems have revolutionised semiconductor physics, and their impact on technology, particularly for semiconductor lasers and ultrafast transistors, is widespread and burgeoning. This book provides an introduction to the general principles that underlie low-dimensional semiconductors. As far as possible, simple physical explanations are used, with reference to examples from actual devices. The author shows how, beginning with fundamental results from quantum mechanics and solid-state physics, a formalism can be developed that describes the properties of low-dimensional semiconductor systems. Among numerous examples, two key systems are studied in detail: the two-dimensional electron gas, employed in field-effect transistors, and the quantum well, whose optical properties find application in lasers and other opto-electronic devices. The book includes many exercises and will be invaluable to undergraduate and first-year graduate physics or electrical engineering students taking courses in low-dimensional systems or heterostructure device physics.

The author develops the effective-mass theory of excitons in low-dimensional semiconductors and describes numerical methods for calculating the optical absorption including Coulomb interaction, geometry, and external fields. The theory is applied to Fano resonances in low-dimensional semiconductors and the Zener breakdown in superlattices. Comparing theoretical results with experiments, the book is essentially self-contained; it is a hands-on approach with detailed derivations, worked examples, illustrative figures, and computer programs. The book is clearly structured and will be valuable as an advanced-level self-study or course book for graduate students, lecturers, and researchers.

This text is a first attempt to pull together the whole of semiconductor science and technology since 1970 in so far as semiconductor multilayers are concerned. Material, technology, physics and device issues are described with approximately equal emphasis, and form a single coherant point of view. The subject matter is the concern of over half of today's active semiconductor scientists and technologists, the remainder working on bulk semiconductors and devices. It is now routine to design and the prepare semiconductor multilayers at a time, with independent control over the dropping and composition in each layer. In turn these multilayers can be patterned with features that as a small as a few atomic layers in lateral extent. The resulting structures open up many new ares of exciting solid state and quantum physics. They have also led to whole new generations of electronic and optoelectronic devices whose superior performance relates back to the multilayer structures. The principles established in the field have several decades to go, advancing towards the ultimate of materials engineering, the design and preparation of solids atom by atom. The book should appeal equally to physicists, electronic engineers and materials scientists.

Low-Dimensional Semiconductor Structures offers a seamless, atoms-to-devices introduction to the latest quantum heterostructures. It covers their fabrication; electronic, optical, and transport properties; role in exploring new physical phenomena; and utilization in devices. The authors describe the epitaxial growth of semiconductors and the physical behavior of electrons and phonons in low-dimensional structures. They then go on to discuss nonlinear optics in quantum heterostructures. The final chapters deal with semiconductor lasers, mesoscopic devices, and high-speed heterostructure devices. The book contains many exercises and comprehensive references.

Narrow gap semiconductors are the most important materials for the preparation of advanced modern infrared systems. They often operate at the extremes of the rules of semiconductor science. This book offers clear descriptions of crystal growth and the fundamental structure and properties of these unique materials. Topics covered include band structure, optical and transport properties, and lattice vibrations and spectra. A thorough treatment of the properties of low-dimensional systems and their relation to infrared applications is provided.

Experimental progress over the past few years has made it possible to test a n- ber of fundamental physical concepts related to the motion of electrons in low dimensions. The production and experimental control of novel structures with typical sizes in the sub-micrometer regime has now become possible. In parti- lar, semiconductors are widely used in order to con?ne the motion of electrons in two-dimensional heterostructures. The quantum Hall e?ect was one of the ?rst highlights of the new physics that is revealed by this con?nement. In a further step of the technological development in semiconductor-heterostructures, other arti?cial devices such as quasi one-dimensional ‘quantum wires’ and ‘quantum dots’ (arti?cial atoms) have also been produced. These structures again di?er very markedly from three- and two-dimensional systems, especially in relation to the transport of electrons and the interaction with light. Although the technol- ical advances and the experimental skills connected with these new structures are progressing extremely fast, our theoretical understanding of the physical e?ects (such as the quantum Hall e?ect) is still at a very rudimentary level. In low-dimensional structures, the interaction of electrons with one another and with other degrees of freedoms such as lattice vibrations or light gives rise to new phenomena that are very di?erent from those familiar in the bulk ma- rial. The theoretical formulation of the electronic transport properties of small devices may be considered well-established, provided interaction processes are neglected.

This book is a comprehensive text on the physics of semiconductors and nanostructures for a large spectrum of students at the final undergraduate level studying physics, material science and electronics engineering. It offers introductory and advanced courses on solid state and semiconductor physics on one hand and the physics of low dimensional semiconductor structures on the other in a single text book. Key Features Presents basic concepts of quantum theory, solid state physics, semiconductors, and quantum nanostructures such as quantum well, quantum wire, quantum dot and superlattice In depth description of semiconductor heterojunctions, lattice strain and modulation doping technique Covers transport in nanostructures under an electric and magnetic field with the topics: quantized conductance, Coulomb blockade, and integer and fractional quantum Hall effect Presents the optical processes in nanostructures under a magnetic field Includes illustrative problems with hints for solutions in each chapter Physics of Semiconductors and Nanostructures will be helpful to students initiating PhD work in the field of semiconductor nanostructures and devices. It follows a unique tutorial approach meeting the requirements of students who find learning the concepts difficult and want to study from a physical perspective.

Presenting the latest advances in artificial structures, this volume discusses in-depth the structure and electron transport mechanisms of quantum wells, superlattices, quantum wires, and quantum dots. It will serve as an invaluable reference and review for researchers and graduate students in solid-state physics, materials science, and electrical and electronic engineering.

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 volume on Advanced Electronic Technologies and Systems based on Low Dimensional Quantum Devices closes a three years series of NATO -AS!' s. The first year was focused on the fundamental properties and applications. The second year was devoted to Devices Based on Low-Dimensional Semiconductor Structures. The third year is covering Systems Based on Low-Dimensional Quantum Semiconductor Devices. The three volumes containing the lectures given at the three successive NATO -ASI's constitute a complete review on the latest advances in semiconductor Science and Technology from the methods of fabrication of the quantum structures through the fundamental physics am basic knowledge of properties and projection of performances to the technology of devices and systems. In the first volume: " Fabrication, Properties and Application of Low Dimensional Semiconductors" are described the practical ways in which quantum structures are produced, the present status of the technology, difficulties encountered, and advances to be expected. The basic theory of Quantum Wells, Double Quantum Wells and Superlattices is introduced and the fundamental aspects of their optical properties are presented. The effect of reduction of dimensionality on lattice dynamics of quantum structures is also discussed. In the second volume: " Devices Based on Low Dimensional Structures" the fundamentals of quantum structures and devices in the two major fields: Electro-Optical Devices and Pseudomorphic High Eectron Mobility Transistors are extensively discussed.