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

• be able to describe the connection between the performance of a device and the properties of the materials it is made from.

• be able to explain the electrical and optical properties of a pn-junction.

• be able to explain how the bipolar transistor and the MOS-transistor work .

• be able to do calculations of currents and capacitances in semiconductors, diodes and transistors.

Skills and abilities
For a passing grade the student must

• be able to analyse and evaluate experimental data.

• be able to use simple simulation tools to study material and device properties.

• be able to apply models like the hybrid-pi model, to model physical processes in devices.

• write reports, that draw conclusions from and summing up experimental work.

Judgement and approach
For a passing grade the student must

• understand the connections between electrical and material properties.

• be able to use simple models, understand the link between the performance of a devices and its materials properties and geometry. And be able to modify the performance through modifying its design parameters.

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.