Semiconductor Devices

This course offers a detailed introduction to the principal categories of semiconductor devices in modern microelectronics. The following topics will be discussed; charge carrier statistics and transport, luminescence, photoconductivity, p-n junctions, metal- semiconductor junctions, diodes, field-effect transistors (MOSFET), bipolar junction transistors (BJT), and selected photonic semiconductor devices.

Targeted expertise

The candidate has:

• basic insight in the physics and operation principles of the most important semiconductor devices encountered in modern microelectronics.
• basic understanding of electronic structure, charge carrier statistics, and carrier (elctron and hole)transport in semiconductors.
• basic insight in the fabrication technology of semiconductor devices and integrated circuits.
• basic understanding of the charge transport in p-n junctions and metal-semiconductor contacts - basic understanding of the working principles of field effect (MOSFET) and bipolar junction (BJT) transistors.

Technical skills

The candidate will:

• know how to calculate voltages and currents in existing electronic semiconductor devices under different biasing conditions
• know how to draw up and analyze circuit models for field effect and bipolar junction transistors
• know the fabrication technology and be able figure out the principles of operation of new and future semiconductor-based electronic and photonic devices.

General expertise

The candidate has:

• the required skills in mathematics, physics, and electronic circuits for quantitative analysis of defined electronic system components.
• the required knowledge for more advanced studies in design of electronic circuits and systems.

Auditorium lectures, pre-recorded videos and group-work sessions.

The group work is compulsory (attendance 80%) and all group-work assignments must be approved before the exam. The group-work sessions takes place in cooperative learning areas under close guidance from the professor and/or teaching assistants. 8 to 10 group-work assignments will be given.