- Student Records
Programme & Unit Catalogues

Department of Physics, Unit Catalogue 2011/12


PH20015: Semiconductor physics

Click here for further information Credits: 3
Click here for further information Level: Intermediate (FHEQ level 5)
Click here for further information Period: Semester 2
Click here for further information Assessment: EX 100%
Click here for further information Supplementary Assessment: PH20015 - Mandatory Extra Work (where allowed by programme regulations)
Click here for further information Requisites: Before taking this unit you must take PH10007 and take PH10008 and take PH20029 and while taking this unit you must take PH20017
Click here for further information Description: Aims:
The aims of this unit are to explore some of the physics underlying the behaviour of electrons in semiconductor materials and the operation of simple semiconductor devices.

Learning Outcomes:
After taking this unit the student should be able to:
* discuss the basic concepts of semiconductor physics;
* calculate carrier concentrations and effective masses;
* outline the basic principles of semiconductor device operation;
* describe the interactions between electrons and photons such as absorption, spontaneous emission and stimulated emission;
* give examples of common optoelectronic devices for emitting, detecting and modulating light, and explain their physical principles of operation.

Skills:
Numeracy T/F A, Problem Solving T/F A.

Content:
Basic properties of semiconductors (4 hours): Electrons and holes and their effective masses. Extrinsic and intrinsic semiconductors; donors and acceptors. Electron and hole concentrations, semiconductor statistics.
Transport properties (2 hours): Electrical conduction and scattering of electrons and holes in solids. Drift velocity, resistivity, diffusion, electron-hole recombination, recombination length. The Hall effect.
The p-n junction (2 hours): The unbiased p-n junction; junction formation, depletion layer width. Biased p-n junctions; band profiles, depletion region width, junction capacitance. Balance of drift and diffusion currents. Qualitatitive introduction to the ideal diode equation, reverse bias breakdown.
Electron-photon interaction in semiconductors (3 hours): Optical absorption in bulk semiconductors; spectral dependence, photocurrent, P-I-N photodiodes. Optical emission in semiconductors; radiative and non-radiative transitions, light-emitting diodes.
Click here for further informationProgramme availability:

PH20015 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Physics
  • USPH-AFB01 : BSc (hons) Physics (Full-time) - Year 2
  • USPH-AFB05 : BSc (hons) Physics with Computing (Full-time) - Year 2
  • USPH-AKB06 : BSc (hons) Physics with Computing (with Placement) (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 2
  • USPH-AAB06 : BSc (hons) Physics with Computing with Year Abroad (Full-time with Study Year Abroad) - Year 2
  • USPH-AKB02 : BSc (hons) Physics (with Placement) (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 2
  • USPH-AAB02 : BSc (hons) Physics with Year Abroad (Full-time with Study Year Abroad) - Year 2
  • USPH-AFM02 : MPhys Physics (Full-time) - Year 2
  • USPH-AFM04 : MPhys Physics with Research Placement (Full-time) - Year 2
  • USPH-AAM03 : MPhys Physics with Year Abroad (Full-time with Study Year Abroad) - Year 2

PH20015 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Physics
  • USPH-AFB09 : BSc Physics (Full-time) - Year 3
  • USPH-AKB09 : BSc Physics (with Placement) (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4

NB. Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.