Physics of Semiconductors
Prerequisiti
Band structure of solids, fundamentals of radiation-matter interaction. Recommended for Masters students.
Programma
A. Bulk Semiconductors
Electronic states and energy bands in bulk semiconductors: single-band approximation, envelope function approximation, effective mass approximation. Multiband envelope function approximation: Luttinger-Kohn hamiltonian. Carrier statistics at equilibrium. Electron transport, semiclassical dynamics. Bloch oscillator. Zener effect. Optical properties: interband transitions and joint density of states. Electron mobility: charged impurity scattering, electron-phonon interaction, temperature dependence.
B. 2D Heterostructures and materials
Semiconductor heterostructures: growth and fabrication, band alignment. Electronic states and carrier statistics in superlattices and quantum wells. Electron transport in superlattices and multiple quantum wells (intra- and inter-band). Resonant tunneling diodes. Two-dimensional electron gases: modulation doping and electron mobiity, graphene and other 2D materials. Quantum Hall effects. Optical properties of heterostructures: intraband and interband matrix elements. Quantum-well lasers, quantum-cascade lasers.
Within the course, opportunities will be offered to carry outindividual experimental (cryogenic systems, micro and nanofabrication) or computer-modeling projects.
Obiettivi formativi
Electronic properties of semiconductors and their heterostructures. Introduction to current research activities in the field of semiconductor heterostructures and two dimensional materials.
Riferimenti bibliografici
J.M. Ziman, Theory of solids, Cambridge University Press
P.Y. Yu and M. Cardona, Fundamentals of Semiconductors, Springer
S. Datta, Quantum Phenomena. Addison Wesley
J. Faist, Quantum Cascade Lasers, Oxford University Press