2024 Faculty Courses School of Engineering Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Graduate major in Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Semiconductor Physics
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Instructor(s)
- Akira Yamada
- Class Format
- Lecture
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Tue / 5-6 Fri
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- EEE.D411
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 14, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
In the course, the drift and diffusion current are derived from the Boltzmann equation, and students understand the relationship between the mobility and diffusion coefficient, and the relaxation time. In the second part, the band structure of solids is explained by the chemical bonding point of view. The explanation facilitates students’understanding of the origin of effective mass and optical properties of solids. In the final part, the physics of the semiconductor heterojunction is shown.
The aim of this course is the deep understanding of electrical and optical properties of solids.
Course description and aims
At the end of this course, students will be able to
1) understand the physics of mobility and diffusion coefficient, and explain the relaxation time.
2) explain the relationship between atomic orbitals and band structure.
3) draw the band diagram of semiconductor heterojunction, and explain the electrical conduction at the heterojunction.
Keywords
Boltzmann equation, relaxation time, chemical bonds, band structure, heterojunction, electrical conduction
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
At the beginning of each class, the previous class is reviewed. At the end of the lecture, an assignment is given.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Basics of electrical transport in solids | Explain the mobility. |
| Class 2 | Basics of Boltzmann equation | Explain the phase (position-velocity) space. |
| Class 3 | Derivation of Boltzmann equation | Derive the Boltzmann equation. |
| Class 4 | Drift and diffusion current | Derive the drift and diffusion current. |
| Class 5 | Physical property of relaxation time | Explain the relaxation time. |
| Class 6 | Basics of band structure | Explain the relationship between the wavenumber and energy. |
| Class 7 | Review of quantum mechanics | Explain the Hamiltonian. |
| Class 8 | Basics of chemical bonds | Derive the bonding and antibonding orbitals. |
| Class 9 | Electronic band structure and chemical bonds | Explain bonds and bands in semiconductors. |
| Class 10 | Band structure based on chemical bonding | Explain the band structure. |
| Class 11 | Electrons and holes, effective mass, optical properties of solids | Explain the heterostructure and lattice mismatch. |
| Class 12 | Band diagram of heterojunction | Draw the band diagram of heterojunction. |
| Class 13 | Electrical conduction at the heterojunction | Explain the I-V characteristics at the heterojucntion. |
| Class 14 | Transistors, solar cells, quantum wells | Explain the operating principles of heterojunction devices. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Specified by the academic supervisor, as necessary
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Specified by the academic supervisor, as necessary.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Determined by the student outcomes 1) to 3).
Student’s scores are given based on assignments.
Related courses
- EEE.D211 ： Semiconductor Physics
Prerequisites
No prerequisite.
Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from ”[at]” to ”@”(half-width character).
Akira YAMADA（yamada.a.ac[at]m.titech.ac.jp)
Office hours
Contact by e-mail in advance to schedule an appointment.