PH3655 Semiconductor Device Physics

Formation of solids, crystal structure of semiconductors, X-ray diffraction, lattice vibrations, defects, electrical and thermal properties, free electron model, Seebeck effect, thermionic emission, photoemission, effects of periodic potential, formation of energy bands, E-k relation, band structure of Si and GaAs, electrons and holes, doping and impurity levels, mobility, diffusion, continuity equation, Schottky and ohmic contacts, optical properties, Formation of p-n junction, I-V characteristics, bipolar and field effect transistors, fabrication technology, semiconductor alloys, quantum effect devices, fundamental limits to semiconductor device technology.

Prerequisite

PH2652

Lecture Hours

4

Lab Hours

0

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

• Understand concepts in material science that include atomic bonds and formation of solids, crystal structure of materials and semiconductors, crystal planes, and imperfections in crystals.
• Understand concepts of electrical and thermal conductance, that includes electrons in metals, the Drude model, Hall effect, temperature dependence of resistivity, thermal conductance, thermal resistance, and classification of solids.
• Understand concepts in quantum mechanics that include free electron model, contact potential, infinite potential well, Heisenberg uncertainty principle, potential box, and hydrogenic atoms.
• Understand concepts in modern theory of solids that include band theory of solids, semiconductors, electron effective mass, density of states in an energy band, Boltzmann statistics, Fermi-Dirac statistics, and band theory of metals.
• Understand concepts in semiconductor physics that includes intrinsic semiconductors, extrinsic semiconductors, temperature dependence of conductivity in semiconductors, diffusion and conduction equations, optical absorption, and the Schottky Junction.
• Understand concepts in semiconductor devices that include the formation of a p-n junction, PN junction band diagram, light emitting diodes, LED materials and structures, LED optical spectrum, solar cells, bipolar transistors (BJTs), field effect transistors (FETs), and metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs).