Product Description
There is something Alice-in-Wonderlandish about powerful and vital computer systems being shut down by a microscopic mote that a hay-feverist wouldn't sneeze at, but as computer chips get smaller, smaller and smaller particles on their surface have a larger and larger effect on their performance. In ... Read more

Product Description
The three volumes of this handbook treat the fundamentals, technology and nanotechnology of nitride semiconductors with an extraordinary clarity and depth. They present all the necessary basics of semiconductor and device physics and engineering together with an extensive reference section. The handbook also deals with the properties and processes for thermal, optical (3-, 2-, 1-, 0-dimensional systems), electrical (at low- and high-electric fields, low- and high-magnetic fields for 3- and 2-dimensional systems), magnetism and magnetic properties (in dilute magnetic ion doped compounds) and spin-based device concepts. ... Read more

Product Description
Semiconductor sensors patterned at the micron scale combined with custom-designed integrated circuits have revolutionized semiconductor radiation detector systems.Designs covering many square meters with million of signal channels are now commonplace in high-energy physics and the technology is finding its way into many other fields, ranging from astrophysics to experiments at synchrotron light sources and medical imaging.This book is the first to present a comprehensive discussion of the many facets of highly integrated semiconductor detectors systems, covering sensors, signal processing, transistors, and circuits, low-noise electronics, and radiation effects.The diversity of design approaches is illustrated in a chapter describing systems in high-energy physics, astronomy, and astrophysics.Finally, a chapter "Why Things Don't Work" discusses common pitfalls. Profusely illustrated, this book includes comprehensive discussions of sensors, signal processing, and electronics.Including fine tutorial material, it provides a unique reference in a key area of modern science. ... Read more

Product Description
In the first three and a half years of its existence, Fairchild Semiconductor developed, produced, and marketed the device that would become the fundamental building block of the digital world: the microchip. Founded in 1957 by eight former employees of the Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory, Fairchild created the model for a successful Silicon Valley start-up: intense activity with a common goal, close collaboration, and a quick path to the market (Fairchild's first device hit the market just ten months after the company's founding). Fairchild Semiconductor was one of the first companies financed by venture capital, and its success inspired the establishment of venture capital firms in the San Francisco Bay area. These firms would finance the explosive growth of Silicon Valley over the next several decades.

This history of the early years of Fairchild Semiconductor examines the technological, business, and social dynamics behind its innovative products. The centerpiece of the book is a collection of documents, reproduced in facsimile, including the company's first prospectus; ideas, sketches, and plans for the company's products; and a notebook kept by cofounder Jay Last that records problems, schedules, and tasks discussed at weekly meetings. A historical overview, interpretive essays, and an introduction to semiconductor technology in the period accompany these primary documents. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Missing Book in Silicon Valley History
Bravo.A well written, well researched book that fills in the missing gaps in early Fairchild history. Using the original lab notebook of Jay Last one of the founders of Fairchild, this book sketches out the early technical decisions that the Fairchild founders made in their first three years. It traces the evolution of first silicon mesa transistors, to a race between Gordon Moore and Jean Hoerni in making the first PNP and NPN transistors. Hoerni's invention of the planar transistor was an outgrowth of that effort. Once the planar process was in hand it was clear that that someone was going to interconnect those transistors.

Lots of surprises and insights in this book. The biggest one for me was the vociferous objection to the integrated circuit product line by Fairchild's VP of Sales. In hindsight it makes sense, but I never would have guessed it.

Minor quibbles on some editing and a awkwardly constructed introduction.

Along with Broken Genius: The Rise and Fall of William Shockley and The Man Behind the Microchip: Robert Noyce and the Invention of Silicon Valley, this book makes a trilogy about the key players in the semiconductor industry.

Essential reading to anyone interested in the technical history of Silicon Valley. ... Read more

Product Description
Modern Semiconductor Devices for Integrated Circuits, First Edition introduces readers to the world of modern semiconductor devices with an emphasis on integrated circuit applications. KEY TOPICS: Electrons and Holes in Semiconductors; Motion and Recombination of Electrons and Holes; Device Fabrication Technology; PN and Metal–Semiconductor Junctions; MOS Capacitor; MOS Transistor; MOSFETs in ICs—Scaling, Leakage, and Other Topics; Bipolar Transistor. MARKET: Written by an experienced teacher, researcher, and expert in industry practices, this succinct and forward-looking text is appropriate for anyone interested in semiconductor devices for integrated curcuits, and serves as a suitable reference text for practicing engineers.  

Product Description
This textbook combines a thorough theoretical treatment of the basic physics of semiconductors with applications to practical devices by putting special emphasis on the physical principles upon which these devices operate.Topics treated are the detailed band structure of semiconductors, the effect of impurities on electronic states, and semiconductor statistics. Also discussed are lattice dynamical, transport, and surface properties as well as optical, magneto-optical, and electro-optical properties. The applied part of the book treats p-n junctions, bipolar junction transistors, semiconductor lasers and photodevices, after which the subject of heterostructures and superlattices is taken up with coverage of electronic, lattice dynamical, optical, and transport properties. The book concludes with treatments of metal-semiconductor devices such as MOSFETs and devices based on heterostructures.Graduate students and lecturers in semiconductor physics, condensed matter physics, electromagnetic theory, and quantum mechanics will find this a useful textbook and reference work. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A good reference
This is a good reference book on semiconductor physics, particularly on the basics. I will not suggest it for beginners though, but advanced graduate students may learn a lot of the basics, which they almost always think they know but actually do not. Examples juxtaposed with the text are helpful. But too much math many times obscure the physics that the book intends to teach. Nevertheless a good reference book for a library. ... Read more

Product Description
This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the physics of the photovoltaic cell. It is suitable for undergraduates, graduate students, and researchers new to the field. It covers: basic physics of semiconductors in photovoltaic devices; physical models of solar cell operation; characteristics and design of common types of solar cell; and approaches to increasing solar cell efficiency. The text explains the terms and concepts of solar cell device physics and shows the reader how to formulate and solve relevant physical problems. Exercises and worked solutions are included.

Contents: Photons In, Electrons Out: Basic Principles of PV; Electrons and Holes in Semiconductors; Generation and Recombination; Junctions; Analysis of the p n Junction; Monocrystalline Solar Cells; Thin Film Solar Cells; Managing Light; Over the Limit: Strategies for Higher Efficiency. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Well balanced between theory and practice
This book is an introductory textbook on photovoltaic devices and the underlying physics. Prerequisites are not mentioned by the author. In my opinion, the book is not self-contained, as it requires prior exposure to solid state physics and mathematics (e.g. Bloch's theorem, bra-ket notation, partial differential equations). Although there is a section on band theory, I would recommend other condensed matter textbooks for a rigorous derivation. In terms of device physics, it would be helpful if the reader already has some knowledge at the level of, say, "Solid State Electronic Devices" by Streetman and Banerjee. In terms of quantum physics, the level of "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" by Griffiths and some understanding of the Shockley-Queisser detailed balance theory should suffice.

This is NOT a book on the manufacturing of solar cell modules with all the industrial optimization processes, or thin film deposition techniques. It focuses on the phenomenological behavior of photovoltaic devices, from conventional single crystal silicon to thin film solar cells, and their pros and cons. It concludes with the final chapter on modern research ideas for higher efficiency, leaving the detailed discussion to further reading.

To be really picky, some of the figures look as if they were drawn in Paint (e.g. shaky curves), and there are a few typographical errors. Nonetheless, these imperfections do not impair comprehension.

Excellent book
I am a newcomer to the field of photovoltaics and was looking for a book simple to understand but robust in content that would convey the fundamental concepts effectively. So far I am halfway through the book, reading during my coffee breaks and before bedtime and I am thoroughly enjoying it. I came to choose this book not by anyone's recommendation or referral but by the affordability and judging the table of content and few sample pages. Most of the other books in this area are so expensive, you have to sort of gamble a hefty amount of money to gain a very little perspective on the nature and scope of the field of photovoltaics. This book so far seems to be very good except there are some countable number of typos that sort of distract during the reading.

great solar cell book
This is a great book for senior undergrads and graduate students.It focuses on other solar cell materials besides Silicon.It was a great reference for teaching material and I referenced it in my PhD thesis.I recommend this book in addition to Martin Green's Solar Cell book (standard undergrad solar cell reference book.)

Physics of Solar Cells
Good book if you are interested in Solar Energy.
Kind of hard material to understand I thought.

very good book.
I feel this is a very good book for advanced undergraduates
and graduate students interested in the physics of solar cells.It
is not a beginner book, as some background is expected.

Solid state physics is difficult and complicated.There are a lot
of different things going on at the same time, and I feel it's good to
get explanations from several different authors viewpoints.I have
several books now on the subject, but I find myself looking at
this one more than the others.I think the author fills in a lot of
details missing in other texts. ... Read more

Product Description
Filling the gap in the literature currently available, this book presents an overview of our knowledge of the physics behind organic semiconductor devices. Contributions from 18 international research groups cover various aspects of this field, ranging from the growth of organic layers and crystals, their electronic properties at interfaces, their photophysics and electrical transport properties to the application of these materials in such different devices as organic field-effect transistors, photovoltaic cells and organic light-emitting diodes.
From the contents:
* Excitation Dynamics in Organic Semiconductors
* Organic Field-Effect Transistors
* Spectroscopy of Organic Semiconductors
* Interfaces between Organic Semiconductors and Metals
* Analysis and Modeling of Devices
* Exciton Formation and Energy Transfer in Organic Light Emitting Diodes
* Deposition and Characterization ... Read more

Product Description
With all the clarity and hands-on practicality of the best-selling first edition, this revised version explains the ins and outs of SPICE, plus gives new data on modeling advanced devices such as MESFETs, ISFETs, and thyristors. And because it's the only book that describes the models themselves, it helps readers gain maximum value from SPICE, rather than just telling them how to run the program. This guide is also distinctive in covering both MOS and FET models. Step by step, it takes the reader through the modeling process, providing complete information on a variety of semiconductor devices for designing specific circuit applications. These include: Pn junction and Schottky diodes; bipolar junction transistor (BJT); junction field effect transistor (JFET); metal oxide semiconductor transistor (MOST); metal semiconductor field effect transistor (MESFET); ion sensitive field effect transistor (ISFET); semiconductor controlled rectifier (SCR-thyristor). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good, if you want to design a SPICE simulator
Eh, it's a decent-enough book.The author is obviously well-versed.But, there's a lot of background theorems and proofs that make this feel more like a math-text than a "tweak this to get this" solution for SPICE modeling.I thought Chap7 (noise) plus Appendix-A and Appendix-B were solid, the rest would be useful if you plan to design your own SPICE-sim, not use something already out there.

A helpful book to understand semiconductor model
Spice is a software package that become a de facto standar in circuit simulation. But as in any other circuit simulator we need to define the accurate input model to get the accurate results. And this book describe inmore detail the components that is used in almost any electronic circuit,i.e. semiconductor devices.The value that is a credit point for this bookisnot just how detail the description of the semiconductor model is inorder to get the accurate parameters but also how to use those parametersin Spice. So, for you who new to this circuit simulator there is no need toworry because this book explain how the circuit model is built using Spice.And for you who need the basic theory of semiconductor model the book givestwo nice appendices on that one. One chapter that is need to be explored inmore detail is about noise and distortion (hopefully in the next editionthe editor could have more on that topic). Finally, this is a "must beread" book for you who want to get excellent results in modellingelectronic circuit.

(For you who understand more clearly in Indonesian)Spice adalah sebuah paket aplikasi yang secara defacto merupakan standaruntuk simulai dan analisa rangkaian elektronik. Namun secara umum berlakupula bahwa untuk menghasilkan simulasi rangkaian elektronik secara akuratdibutuhkan parameter-parameter yang akurat pula untuk setiap modelnya. Bukuini memberikan ulasan mendalam tentang parameter-parameter bagi pemodelandevice semikonduktor. Kelebihan yang dimiliki buku ini tidak hanya padabagaimana penghitungan dan pengukuran parameter untuk model tersebut tetapibagaimana menggunakannya pada simulasi rangkaian menggunakan SPICE. BagiAnda yang baru mendalami spice jangan khawatir karena buku ini jugamemberikan ulasan tentang sistem pemodelan dalam spice. Sebaliknya bagianda yang baru dalam pemodelan semikonduktor buku ini juga memberikanapendiks tentang teori dasar semikonduktor. Satu hal yang mungkin perludibahas lebih mendalam adalah tentang Nose dan Distorsi (mudah-mudahandalam edisi berikutnya materi ini dapat lebih dikembangkan). Kesimpulannya,buku ini merupakan suatu buku yang wajib dibaca bila anda ingin lebihakurat dalam menjalankan simulasi rangkaian elektronik yang menggunakansemikonduktor. ... Read more

Product Description
Explaining the physics and characteristics of power semiconductor devices, this book presents an overview of various classes of power semiconductors. It provides insight into how they work and the characteristics of the various components from the viewpoint of the user, going through all modern power semiconductor device types. The physics are explained in reasonable detail, providing the precise amount of information needed to fully understand the component's behavior in the application. Exploring the specific strengths and weaknesses of each device type, the book demonstrates how these devices fit into the system and how they will behave there. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The best book on the subject I have come across
I've found Stefan Linder's book the most educative and enjoyable reading. I especially like the many illustrations visualizing the in reality quite complicated physical phenomena. They greatly help in grasping the ideas under discussion. The text is logical, precise and clear, showing throughout how the writer really has his own, true understanding of the subject and how he aims to help the reader to attain this understanding too. This book was exactly what I was looking for and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to any Technical University student or engineer occupied with power components. It is by far the best book on the subject I have come across. ... Read more

Product Description
This book focuses on reliability and radiation effects in compound semiconductors, which have evolved rapidly during the last 15 years. It starts with first principles, and shows how advances in device design and manufacturing have suppressed many of the older reliability mechanisms.

It is the first book that comprehensively covers reliability and radiation effects in optoelectronic as well as microelectronic devices. It contrasts reliability mechanisms of compound semiconductors with those of silicon-based devices, and shows that the reliability of many compound semiconductors has improved to the level where they can be used for ten years or more with low failure rates. ... Read more

Product Description
Retaining the comprehensive and in-depth approach that cemented the bestselling first edition's place as a standard reference in the field, the Handbook of Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology, Second Edition features new and updated material that keeps it at the vanguard of today's most dynamic and rapidly growing field. Iconic experts Robert Doering and Yoshio Nishi have again assembled a team of the world's leading specialists in every area of semiconductor manufacturing to provide the most reliable, authoritative, and industry-leading information available.

Stay Current with the Latest Technologies
In addition to updates to nearly every existing chapter, this edition features five entirely new contributions on…

Customer Reviews (2)

Get this handbook! Nothing will ever come close to it.
I'm new to the semiconductor manufacturing business. Getting this book is definitely the right thing I've done. This book provides all the things i wanted to know about semiconductor manufacturing. With over 1100 pages, this book is hard to resist. It covers almost all the technology required for making semiconductor IC. Even though it does not give much details, but the coverage of the topic is sufficient. In addition, the generousity of the authors to provide ample references at the end of each chapter is amazing. One will have plenty of time to search through the references for further info. I suggest that people who are in the semiconductor manufacturing field to get their hands on it. One thing that can be improved regarding to the presentation of this handbook, is the way the diagrams are displayed. Maybe the publisher should consider printing them in glossy paper as some diagrams looks very poor as if they just come out from the photocopy machine.

Get this handbook! Nothing will ever come close to it.
I'm new to the semiconductor manufacturing business. Getting this book is definitely the right thing I've done. This book provides all the things i wanted to know about semiconductor manufacturing. With over 1100 pages, this book is hard to resist. It covers almost all the technology required for making semiconductor IC. Even though it does not give much details, but the coverage of the topic is sufficient. In addition, the generousity of the authors to provide ample references at the end of each chapter is amazing. One will have plenty of time to search through the references for further info. I suggest that people who are in the semiconductor manufacturing field to get their hands on it. One thing that can be improved regarding to the presentation of this handbook, is the way the diagrams are displayed. Maybe the publisher should consider printing them in glossy paper as some diagrams looks very poor as if they just come out from the photocopy machine. ... Read more

Product Description

This updated and enlarged new edition of Semiconductor Optics provides an introduction to and an overview of semiconductor optics from the IR through the visible to the UV, including linear and nonlinear optical properties, dynamics, magneto- and electrooptics, high-excitation effects, some applications, experimental techniques and group theory.

The mathematics is kept as elementary as possible, sufficient for an intuitive understanding of  the experimental results and techniques treated. The subjects covered extend from physics to materials science and optoelectronics. New or updated chapters add coverage of current topics such as cavity polaritons, photonic structures, structures of reduced dimensionality or the semiconductor Bloch equations, while the chapters on bulk materials have been revised and updated.

Customer Reviews (4)

Excellent book
This book is a very comprehensive treatment of semiconductor optics. At the begining, I was hesitant to buy it. So I borrowed an older edition from our library. I was so much impressed, that I bought my own copy. A colleague of mine is so much impressed by the lucidity of arguments in the book, that he reads a passage from it for us at work every once in a while. This book spans the breadth of the subject from basic the fundamental concepts of optics and solid state physics to the more advanced such as semiconductor Bloch equations. I highly recommend this book. If I teach semiconductor optics at any time, this would be the textbook that I will use (by the way, it has excellent problems at the end of each chapter.)

Excellent for experimentalists in semiconductor optics
This book covers the basics of optical processes in semiconductors from an experimentalist perspective. Therefore the theory is a bit light, but all the concepts are there as well as many useful insights. An excellentintroduction to the subject.

very bad
don't buy this boo

semiconductor optics
I want to look at this book ... Read more

Product Description
This book highlights the state-of-the-art qubit implementations in semiconductors, providing an extensive overview of this newly emerging field. Semiconductor nanostructures have huge potential as future quantum information devices as they provide simultaneously various ways of qubit implementation (electron spin, electronic excitation) as well as a way to transfer quantum information from these stationary qubits to flying qubits (photons). For this reason, this book unites contributions from leading experts in the field, reporting cutting-edge results on spin qubit preparation, read-out, and transfer. The latest theoretical as well as experimental studies of decoherence in these quantum information systems are also provided. Novel demonstrations of complex flying qubit states and first applications of semiconductor-based quantum information devices are given too.

Contents: Spin and Charge Qubits; Qubit Control, Readout, and Transfer; Qubit Decoherence; Flying Qubits; Qubit Applications. ... Read more

Product Description

Semiconductor Device Physics and Design provides a fresh and unique teaching tool. Over the last decade device performances are driven by new materials, scaling, heterostructures and new device concepts. Semiconductor devices have mostly relied on Si but increasingly GaAs, InGaAs and heterostructures made from Si/SiGe, GaAs/AlGaAs etc have become important. Over the last few years one of the most exciting new entries has been the nitride based heterostructures. New physics based on polar charges and polar interfaces has become important as a result of the nitrides. Nitride based devices are now used for high power applications and in lighting and display applications. For students to be able to participate in this exciting arena, a lot of physics, device concepts, heterostructure concepts and materials properties need to be understood. It is important to have a textbook that teaches students and practicing engineers about all these areas in a coherent manner.

Semiconductor Device Physics and Design starts out with basic physics concepts including the physics behind polar heterostructures and strained heterostructures. Important devices ranging from p-n diodes to bipolar and field effect devices is then discussed. An important distinction users will find in this book is the discussion presented on device needs from the perspective of various technologies. For example, how much gain is needed in a transistor, how much power, what kind of device characteristics are needed. Not surprisingly the needs depend upon applications. The needs of an A/D or D/A converter will be different from that of an amplifier in a cell phone. Similarly the diodes used in a laptop will place different requirements on the device engineer than diodes used in a mixer circuit. By relating device design to device performance and then relating device needs to system use the student can see how device design works in real world.

This book is comprehensive without being overwhelming. The focus was to make this a useful text book so that the information contained is cohesive without including all aspects of device physics. The lesson plans demonstrated how this book could be used in a 1 semester or 2 quarter sequence.

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent introductory book for compound semiconductors device physics
There are many classic books out there for introductory semiconductor device physics written by eminent scholars such as Streetman, Pierret, Neamen and many more. These books were written for Silicon based devices. On the other hand, with the recent research advances in compound semiconductors, it becomes imperative to have a new book which is tuned to the fundamentals required to understand the physics behind these materials and the corresponding devices. This book has indeed been tailor made to meet such demands. The first chapter is an excellent introduction to crystal structures of semiconductors, much better than the earlier mentioned books. But, in my humble opinion, the second chapter takes the cake. I have never come across such an elegant analysis of band structures of devices in a book meant for electrical engineers. Generally, such discussions have been limited to physics textbooks which are not that easy to comprehend. I can go about other chapters to, but then, I believe you have got my point by now. This book treats the material is a totally different style which is very reader friendly.

Another salient feature of this book is the pedagogical tools employed by the authors. Every now and then, by using simple analogies, flowcharts and detailed illustrations, concepts have been nicely explained.

There is another book on compound semiconductor device physics by Sandip Tiwari which ishard to find these days. Moreover, its more inclined towards graduate students than undergraduates and hence expects the reader to have strong fundamentals. Hence, I will recommend that book as a supplement to this one.

So, if you are interested in understanding device physics for both Si based and compound semiconductors, this is an excellent introductory book. Being a doctoral candidate in solid state devices, I believe this book has a unique place in your collection. Also, the authors are really eminent researchers in their fields and this book is indeed a testament to their prowess in this subject. ... Read more

Product Description
This book will be a valuable resource for those interested in
- how to use advanced memory configurations,
- memory chip to system level designs including megabyte and gigabyte mass storage memories,
- and radiation effects on these technologies for use in military and space applications ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Book Review :(
The book seems to be an academic review of general knowledge reguarding non volatile memories.As an asic designer, I didn't find it useful.The book is best for management or anyone looking for an introduction to the field. ... Read more

Product Description
This invaluable textbook presents the basic elements needed to understand and research into semiconductor physics. It deals with elementary excitations in bulk and low-dimensional semiconductors, including quantum wells, quantum wires and quantum dots. The basic principles underlying optical nonlinearities are developed, including excitonic and many-body plasma effects. Fundamentals of optical bistability, semiconductor lasers, femtosecond excitation, the optical Stark effect, the semiconductor photon echo, magneto-optic effects, as well as bulk and quantum-confined Franz-Keldysh effects, are covered. The material is presented in sufficient detail for graduate students and researchers with a general background in quantum mechanics.This fifth edition includes an additional chapter on 'Quantum Optical Effects' where the theory of quantum optical effects in semiconductors is detailed. Besides deriving the 'semiconductor luminescence equations' and the expression for the stationary luminescence spectrum, the results are presented to show the importance of Coulombic effects on the semiconductor luminescence and to elucidate the role of excitonic populations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good one time reading.
The book is truly a required reading for anyone, who wants to work in the field of semiconductor opticas. The choice of topics and the presentation are excellent. However, the book does not go really deep in any of the topics, therefore I doubt that anyone will read this book more than once or use it as a reference.
Some topic and, especially, equations may seem too overused in later books and review papers, but apparently this book was the first to present them and here they are truly enlightening.
... Read more

Product Description
Physics of Semiconductor Devices covers both basic classic topics such as energy band theory and the gradual-channel model of the MOSFET as well as advanced concepts and devices such as MOSFET short-channel effects, low-dimensional devices and single-electron transistors. Concepts are introduced to the reader in a simple way, often using comparisons to everyday-life experiences such as simple fluid mechanics. They are then explained in depth and mathematical developments are fully described.
Physics of Semiconductor Devices contains a list of problems that can be used as homework assignments or can be solved in class to exemplify the theory. Many of these problems make use of Matlab and are aimed at illustrating theoretical concepts in a graphical manner. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Very good!!
This book is very good! Both for beginners readers as for readers who are seeking more knowledge in physics of semiconductors. I particularly like much of the didactic Colinge. Recommended!

Useful study text
If your aim is to review the main concepts and refresh your memory of semiconductor devices this book is excellent. Not a book for beginners in the area as it is heavy on equations but the main concepts are dealt with clearly and the many illustrations are quite helpful.

Stay away!
This is terrible text.I am currently studying for a midterm and there are no examples and the authors write at a level that would not be acceptable for high school.The material is hard enough, but this book makes understanding it just that much more difficult.I hope the only schools that actually use this text are the two where the authors teach.I bet the good review was left by one of the authors.

Not enough examples
Okay, maybe I'm just dumb, but this book barely has any examples besides the few problems at the end of each chapter. The book is full of equations and not enough explanation. I would not recommend taking this class or buying this book. Of course, if you're an EE student at UC Davis, this class (EEC140A) is required. So, tough luck. All I can tell you is... don't slack off. Attend the lectures, and don't fall behind. I found the materials to be pretty difficult. There's no way around it. Study.

Excellent Book
A must buy for those wishing to study the physics of semiconductor devices. ... Read more

Product Description
Low-dimensional semiconductor structures, often referred to as nanocrystals or quantum dots, exhibit fascinating behavior and have a multitude of potential applications, especially in the field of communications. This book examines in detail the optical properties of these structures, gives full coverage of theoretical and experimental results, and discusses their technological applications. The author begins by setting out the basic physics of electron states in crystals (adopting a "cluster-to-crystal" approach), and goes on to discuss the growth of nanocrystals, absorption and emission of light by nanocrystals, optical nonlinearities, interface effects, and photonic crystals. He illustrates the physical principles with references to actual devices such as novel light-emitters and optical switches. The book covers a rapidly developing, interdisciplinary field. It will be of great interest to graduate students of photonics or microelectronics, and to researchers in electrical engineering, physics, chemistry, and materials science. ... Read more