An introduction to the physics of semiconductors for graduate students. In the early few weeks, we will review undergraduate level quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and solid-state physics. In the following weeks, students learn the concept of a band-structure calculation using semi-empirical methods such as tight-binding and the k.p method. Both real and calculated band-structures are analyzed to understand concepts of effective mass, density of states, etc. The course will continue to discuss advanced semiconductor related topics such as electrical and thermal transport phenomena, scattering processes, localized energy states, equilibrium and non-equilibrium semiconductor statistics, etc.

Midterm: 30%
Final: 40%
Homework: 30% (3 times. 10% each)

Textbook: Fundamentals of Semiconductors by Peter Y. Yu and Manuel Cardona 4th Ed.
(E-book is available at the library website.)

1. Electronic Properties of Crystalline Solids – Richard H. Bube
2. Physical Properties of Semiconductors- Charles M. Wolfe, Nick Holonyak, Jr. and Gregory E. Stillman
3. Electrical Transport in Nanoscale Systems – Massimiliano Di Ventra

Week 1: Review– Quantum Mechanics, Statistical Mechanics, Crystal Structure
Week 2: Review– Quantum Mechanics, Statistical Mechanics, Crystal Structure
Week 3: Electronic Band Structure (free Electron Model, tight binding model)
Week 4: Electronic Band Structure (pseudopotential methods, kp method)
Week 5: Vibrational Properties of Semiconductors
Week 6: Electron Transport – Classical
Week 7: Electron Transport – Boltzmann Transport Equations
Week 8: Mid-term & Review
Week 9: Scattering Process
Week 10: Scattering Process
Week 11: Optical Properties of solid
Week 12: Landauer Approach
Week 13: Landauer Approach
Week 14: Non-equilibrium Green’s Function Approach
Week 15: Introduction to emerging materials
Week 16: Final Exam

* The course schedule is subject to change upon class progress.

Mainly lecture with slides. In class Q/A and discussion.