Lecturer: A. Marco Malvezzi  

Course name: phyisics of semiconductors
Course code: 500606
Degree course: Ingegneria Elettronica
Disciplinary field of science: FIS/03
University credits: CFU 6
Course website: n.d.

Specific course objectives

The principles of quantum mechanics are desribed and discussed in view of their applications to semiconducor physics and quantum optics. The accent is on conceptual topics as well as on specific, quantitative, illuminating examples.

Course programme

The principles of quantum mechanics are desribed and discussed in view of their applications to semiconducor physics and quantum optics. The accent is on conceptual topics as well as on specific, quantitative, illuminating examples.

topics on wave mechanics

• limitations of classical physics
• the Schroedinger equation for a single particles, Heisemberg principle, principle of complementarity
• non interacting, identical particles, spin and exclusion principle

statistical physics

• density-of-states for a system of particles in equilibrium
• Boltzman distribution
• Bose-Einstein distribution
• Fermi-Dirac distribution

solids

• single-electron states in a periodic potential
• Bloch theorem
• energy band formation
• metals and insulators
• effective mass

semiconductors

• electrons and holes
• equilibrium distribution, Fermi energy
• p-n junction
• I-V diagrams for a polarized p-n junction in equilibrium

Course entry requirements

It is assumed that one is familiar with the principles of classical physics, in particular with the properties of the e.m. waves and with elementary statistical physics. All the mathematical tools developed during the curriculum are assumed to be well established.

Course structure and teaching

Lectures (hours/year in lecture theatre): 45
Practical class (hours/year in lecture theatre): 0
Practicals / Workshops (hours/year in lecture theatre): 0

Suggested reading materials

In the following list some introductory textbooks are shown with a letter (F). Other texts, on the contrary are much extensive and can be used as a complement to specific topics of the course. Lecture notes of the entire course (in italian!), as well as a list of problems given in the past are available.

Halliday, Resnick, Krane. Fondamenti di Fisica, Fisica Moderna. Casa editrice Ambrosiana. (F).

S. Gasiorowicz. Quantum Physics, 3rd edition. Wiley.

Bernstein, Fishbane, Gasiorowicz. Modern Physics. Prentice Hall. (F).

H. Kroemer. Quantum Mechanics for Engineers, Material Science and Applied Physics. Prentice Hall.

D.A.B. Miller. Quantum mechanics for scientists and engineers. Cambridge.

A.Rigamonti, P.Carretta. Structure of Matter. Springer.

E. Landi degli Innocenti. Spettroscopia atomica e processi radiativi. Springer.

Testing and exams

The final evaluation will be based on a 3-hours written test. If passed, an oral colloquium will follow.