Solid-State Physics for Electronics

Describing the fundamental physical properties of materials used in electronics, the thorough coverage of this book will facilitate an understanding of the technological processes used in the fabrication of electronic and photonic devices. The book opens with an introduction to the basic applied physics of simple electronic states and energy levels. Silicon and copper, the building blocks for many electronic devices, are used as examples. Next, more advanced theories are developed to better account for the electronic and optical behavior of ordered materials, such as diamond, and disordered materials, such as amorphous silicon. Finally, the principal quasi-particles (phonons, polarons, excitons, plasmons, and polaritons) that are fundamental to explaining phenomena such as component aging (phonons) and optical performance in terms of yield (excitons) or communication speed (polarons) are discussed. "This book is the result of the author's many years of experience teaching at MSc level in the areas of applied, materials and electronic physics. It is written with device physics and electronics students in mind, and describes the fundamental physics of materials used in electronics. This will give the reader a thorough understanding of the theoretical foundations as well as the major fields of practical application of this topic."--Jacket