Examines the basic electronic and optical properties of two- dimensional semiconductor heterostructures based on III-V and II-VI compounds. Explores various consequences of one-dimensional size-quantization on the most basic physical properties of heterolayers. Beginning with basic quantum mechanical properties of idealized quantum wells and superlattices, it discusses the occurrence of bound states when the heterostructure is imperfect or when it is shone with near bandgap light.

Examines the basic electronic and optical properties of two- dimensional semiconductor heterostructures based on III-V and II-VI compounds. Explores various consequences of one-dimensional size-quantization on the most basic physical properties of heterolayers. Beginning with basic quantum mechanical properties of idealized quantum wells and superlattices, it discusses the occurrence of bound states when the heterostructure is imperfect or when it is shone with near bandgap light.

The most up-to-date book available on the physics of photonic devices This new edition of Physics of Photonic Devices incorporates significant advancements in the field of photonics that have occurred since publication of the first edition (Physics of Optoelectronic Devices). New topics covered include a brief history of the invention of semiconductor lasers, the Lorentz dipole method and metal plasmas, matrix optics, surface plasma waveguides, optical ring resonators, integrated electroabsorption modulator-lasers, and solar cells. It also introduces exciting new fields of research such as: surface plasmonics and micro-ring resonators; the theory of optical gain and absorption in quantum dots and quantum wires and their applications in semiconductor lasers; and novel microcavity and photonic crystal lasers, quantum-cascade lasers, and GaN blue-green lasers within the context of advanced semiconductor lasers. Physics of Photonic Devices, Second Edition presents novel information that is not yet available in book form elsewhere. Many problem sets have been updated, the answers to which are available in an all-new Solutions Manual for instructors. Comprehensive, timely, and practical, Physics of Photonic Devices is an invaluable textbook for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses in photonics and an indispensable tool for researchers working in this rapidly growing field.

Optics of Excitons in Confined Systems provides an overview of research in semiconductors that exhibit resonance enhanced optical nonlinearities in the frequency range close to the valence-conduction band gap. The book is divided into the following sections: quantum wells, wires, and dots; superlattices; nonlinear optical properties of confined systems; and effects of external fields on confined systems. Topics range from fundamental theory to more applied aspects of excitons in confined sytems.

It is widely recognized that an understanding of the optical pro perties of matter will give a great deal of important information re levant to the fundamental physical properties. This is especially true in semiconductor physics for which, due to the intrinsic low screening of these materials, the optical response is quite rich. Their spectra reflect indeed as well electronic as spin or phonon transitions. This is also in the semiconductor field that artificial structures have been recently developed, showing for the first time specific physical properties related to the low dimentionality of the electronic and vi bronic properties : with this respect the quantum and fractional quan tum Hall effects are among the most well known aspects. The associated reduced screening is also a clear manifestation of these aspects and as such favors new optical properties or at least significantly enhan ces some of them. For all these reasons, it appeared necessary to try to review in a global way what the optical investigation has brought today about the understanding of the physics of semiconductors. This volume collects the papers presented at the NATO Advanced study Inst i tut e on "Optical Properties of Semiconductors" held at the Ettore Majorana Centre, Erice, Sicily on March 9th to 20th, 1992. This school brought together 70 scientists active in research related to optical properties of semiconductors. There were 12 lecturers who pro vided the main contributions .

This book contains the proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on "Resonant Tunneling in Semiconductors: Physics and Applications", held at Escorial, Spain, on May 14-18, 1990. The tremendous growth in the past two decades in the field of resonant tunneling in semiconductor heterostructures has followed, if not outpaced, the expansion wit nessed in quantum structures in general. Resonant tunneling shares also the multi disciplinary nature of that broad area, with an emphasis on the underlying physics but with a coverage of material systems on the one end and device applications on the other. Indeed, that resonant tunneling provides great flexibility in terms of materials and configurations and that it is inherently a fast process with obvious device impli cations by the presence of a negative differential resistance have contributed to the unrelenting interest in this field. These proceedings consist of 49 refereed articles; they correspond to both invited and contributed talks at the workshop. Because of the intertwinning nature of the subject matter, it has been difficult to subdivide them in well-defined sections. Instead, they are arranged in several broad categories, meant to serve only as guidelines of emphasis on different topics and aspects. The book starts with an introduction to res onant tunneling by providing a perspective of the field in the first article. This is fol lowed by discussions of different material systems with various band-structure effects.

Semiconductor optoelectronic devices are at the heart of all information generation and processing systems and are likely to be essential components of future optical computers. With more emphasis on optoelectronics and photonics in graduate programmes in physics and engineering, there is aneed for a text providing a basic understanding of the important physical phenomena involved. Such a training is necessary for the design, optimization, and search for new materials, devices, and application areas. This book provides a simple quantum mechanical theory of important optical processes,i.e. band-to-band, intersubband, and excitonic absorption and recombination in bulk, quantum wells, wires, dots, superlattices, and strained layers including electro-optic effects. The classical theory of absorption, quantization of radiation, and band picture based on k.p perturbation has beenincluded to provide the necessary background. Prerequisites for the book are a knowledge of quantum mechanics and solid state theory. Problems have been set at the end of each chapter, some of which may guide the reader to study processes not covered in the book. The application areas of thephenomena are also indicated.

Quantum Heterostructures provides a detailed description of the key physical and engineering principles of quantum semiconductor heterostructures. Blending important concepts from physics, materials science, and electrical engineering, it also explains clearly the behavior and operating features of modern microelectronic and optoelectronic devices. The authors begin by outlining the trends that have driven development in this field, most importantly the need for high-performance devices in computer, information, and communications technologies. They then describe the basics of quantum nanoelectronics, including various transport mechanisms. In the latter part of the book, they cover novel microelectronic devices, and optical devices based on quantum heterostructures. The book contains many homework problems and is suitable as a textbook for undergraduate and graduate courses in electrical engineering, physics, or materials science. It will also be of great interest to those involved in research or development in microelectronic or optoelectronic devices.

This invaluable textbook presents the basic elements needed to understand and research into semiconductor physics. It deals with elementary excitations in bulk and low-dimensional semiconductors, including quantum wells, quantum wires and quantum dots. The basic principles underlying optical nonlinearities are developed, including excitonic and many-body plasma effects. Fundamentals of optical bistability, semiconductor lasers, femtosecond excitation, the optical Stark effect, the semiconductor photon echo, magneto-optic effects, as well as bulk and quantum-confined Franz-Keldysh effects, are covered. The material is presented in sufficient detail for graduate students and researchers with a general background in quantum mechanics.

This invaluable textbook presents the basic elements needed to understand and research into semiconductor physics. It deals with elementary excitations in bulk and low-dimensional semiconductors, including quantum wells, quantum wires and quantum dots. The basic principles underlying optical nonlinearities are developed, including excitonic and many-body plasma effects. Fundamentals of optical bistability, semiconductor lasers, femtosecond excitation, the optical Stark effect, the semiconductor photon echo, magneto-optic effects, as well as bulk and quantum-confined Franz-Keldysh effects, are covered. The material is presented in sufficient detail for graduate students and researchers with a general background in quantum mechanics.This fifth edition includes an additional chapter on 'Quantum Optical Effects' where the theory of quantum optical effects in semiconductors is detailed. Besides deriving the 'semiconductor luminescence equations' and the expression for the stationary luminescence spectrum, results are presented to show the importance of Coulombic effects on the semiconductor luminescence and to elucidate the role of excitonic populations.