Preface xv
About the Author xix
1 Electrons, Photons, and Phonons
1.1 Selected Concepts of Quantum Mechanics
1.1.1 The dual nature of the photon
1.1.2 The dual nature of the electron
1.1.3 Electrons in confined environments
1.2 Selected Concepts of Statistical Mechanics
1.2.1 Thermal motion and thermal energy
1.2.2 Thermal equilibrium
1.2.3 Electron statistics
1.3 Selected Concepts of Solid-State Physics
1.3.1 Bonds and bands
1.3.2 Metals, insulators, and semiconductors
1.3.3 Density of states
1.3.4 Lattice vibrations: phonons
1.4 Summary
1.5 Further reading
Problems
2 Carrier Statistics in Equilibrium
2.1 Conduction and Valence Bands; Bandgap; Holes
2.2 Intrinsic Semiconductor
2.3 Extrinsic Semiconductor
2.3.1 Donors and acceptors
2.3.2 Charge neutrality
2.3.3 Equilibrium carrier concentration in a doped semiconductor
2.4 Carrier Statistics in Equilibrium
2.4.1 Conduction and valence band density of states
2.4.2 Equilibrium electron concentration
2.4.3 Equilibrium hole concentration
2.4.4 np product in equilibrium
2.4.5 Location of Fermi level
2.5 Summary
2.6 Further Reading
Problems
3 Carrier Generation and Recombination
3.1 Generation and Recombination Mechanisms
3.2 Thermal Equilibrium: Principle of Detailed Balance
3.3 Generation and Recombination Rates in Thermal Equilibrium
3.3.1 Band-to-band optical generation and recombination
3.3.2 Auger generation and recombination
3.3.3 Trap-assisted thermal generation