Syllabus academic year 2010/2011
(Created 2010-07-25.)
PHYSICS OF DEVICESESS030
Credits: 4,5. Grading scale: TH. Cycle: G2 (First Cycle). Main field: Technology. Language of instruction: The course will be given in Swedish. ESS030 overlaps following cours/es: ETI240, FFF060 and FFF090. Compulsory for: E2. Optional for: D4, D4dpd. Course coordinator: Anders Gustafsson, anders.gustafsson@ftf.lth.se, Department of Physics. Recommended prerequisits: ESS010 Electronics. Assessment: The examination consists of a written exam, which is solved individually. The exam is composed of descriptive problems, as well as calculations. Each student is also required to hand in two separate assignments. In addition, the students must perform two laboratory exercises in pairs. After the exercise, the students have to hand in a written report. The report must be handed in the first time no later than the exam and to pass the exercise, the report must be approved no later than the first re-examination the same term (August). The grade is based on the written exam. Parts: 5. Home page: http://www.ftf.lth.se/Komponentfysik.html.

Aim
The course will give the student basic insights into what is hidden underneath the cover of the most common electronic devices, such as diodes and transistors. The course gives an introduction to how these devices are designed and how they work.

The function and performance are connected to the material properties and external parameters, such as voltages and temperature. The course links the functionality of a device in an electronic circuit (Electronics and Analogue Circuits) and the functionality of devices (Device physics)

The course is of importance as the development of electronic devices leads to new applications with better performance of the system they are incorporated into. An example is that we see faster computers and data communication, and increased functunality of mobile phones. Breakthroughs in materials science has lead to the development of key devices, like the laser diode used in DVD-players and high speed transistors used in satellite communication.

Knowledge and understanding
For a passing grade the student must

Skills and abilities
For a passing grade the student must

Judgement and approach
For a passing grade the student must

Contents
The purpose of the course is to give an overview of how basic electronic devices work from a semiconductor physics view. The course introduces the fundamental physics behind devices through the introduction of the concept of band structure to define semiconductors, insulators and conductors. A cornerstone in device physics is the currents in semiconductors, caused by drift and diffusion of charge carriers. The course focuses on diodes, bipolar and MOS transistors. The are discussed in terms of potentials, current mechanisms, capacitances and materials properties.

The course also discusses how design parameters affect the properties in terms of gain and transition frequency, and how these can be modified by the design. The course also gives an introduction to the most commonly used opto-electronic devices, like light emitting diodes, laser diodes and photo diodes.

The course includes an overview of other types of common electronic devices that are available today and that might be available in the near future.

Literature
Compendium (in Swedish). Available by the physics department.

Parts

Code: 0111. Name: Physics of Devices.
Higher education credits: 2,5. Grading scale: TH. Assessment: Written exam.

Code: 0211. Name: Laboratory Work 1: Opto-electronic Devices.
Higher education credits: 0,5. Grading scale: UG. Assessment: Written report.

Code: 0311. Name: Laboratory Work 2: Pn-junctions.
Higher education credits: 0,5. Grading scale: UG. Assessment: Written report.

Code: 0411. Name: Assignment 1: Semiconductors.
Higher education credits: 0,5. Grading scale: UG. Assessment: Hand-in assignment.

Code: 0511. Name: Assignment 2: Transistors.
Higher education credits: 0,5. Grading scale: UG. Assessment: Hand-in assignement.