OPTI 240

07/06

OPTI240. Semiconductor Physics and Lasers (3). Compound semiconductors are widely used in photonic components and lasers. This course covers the basic principles of semiconductor physics including: introduction to quantum mechanics; compound semiconductors; direct and indirect bands; p-n junctions; heterojunctions, light absorption and emission; LED and semiconductor lasers.

P, PHYS241, CR MATH 254.

Course Outline

• Introduction to Semiconductor Optoelectronics

• Introduction to quantum mechanics

• Atoms and Solids, Pauli exclusion principle

• Metals, Insulators, and Semiconductors

• Conduction band, valance band, and energy gap

• Electrons and holes

• Various semiconductors: IV, III-V, II-VI

• Direct and indirect bandgaps

• Intrinsic, extrinsic, (P and N doping), electron-hole concentration, Fermi level

• Light absorption and emission (conservation of energy and momentum)

• P-N Junctions: equilibrium potential, space charge, current-voltage relation

• Heterojunctions

• Light emitting diodes

• Photodiodes

• Waveguides: Snell’s law, TIR

• Semiconductor lasers: population inversion, gain, amplification, lasing condition

• Fabry-Perot lasers, characteristics, threshold gain and current

• Multimode and single mode lasers

• Quantum well lasers

Instructor

Dr. Mahmoud Fallahi

Grading

Homework/attendance      15%

First Exam                           25%

Second Exam                     30%

Final Exam                          30%