Optical Properties of Semiconductors

Classroom

The subject of the course are properties of solids with a strong emphasis on semiconductors and low-dimensional semiconductor structures. Theoretical description of the way how light interacts with semiconductors is presented. Different optical methods used nowadays in semiconductor physics are reviewed.

The aim of the course is to provide the knowledge about fundamentals of classical and quantum-mechanical description of optical processes in semiconductors and low-dimensional semiconductor structures related to the band structure, presence of free carriers (electrons and holes), impurities and lattice vibrations. The most important optical methods used nowadays in semiconductor physics including light absorption, reflectivity, luminescence, photoconductivity and inelastic light scattering (Raman effect) are presented. They are successfully used to study experimentally classical three-dimensional systems, nanoobjects like quantum wells, quantum dots as well as metamaterials. These methods are commonly used not only in physics but also in other natural sciences like chemistry or biology.

Program:

1. Maxwell's equations in description of wave propagation in solids.

2. Dynamic Dielectric Function formalism.

3. Quantum-mechanical description of optical processes. Oscillator strength concept.

4. Optical processes induced by the presence of free carriers.

5. Lattice vibrations (phonons). Electron-phonon interaction.

6. Hydrogen atom model in solid state physics.

7. Optical spectroscopy of shallow and deep impurities.

8. Interband transitions. Van Hoove singularities. Fundamental band-edge.

9. Optical processes involving excitons, polaritons. Magneto-optics and application of external hydrostatic pressure and uniaxial stress.

10. Optical properties of semiconductor nanoobjects (quantum wells, heterojunctions, quantum dots, quantum wires) and metamaterials.

Prerequisites:

Quantum mechanics I

Basic bibliography

1. Mark Fox, Optical Properties of Solids

2. Ch. Kittel, Introduction to Solid State Physics.

Complementary bibliography

3. P. Yu, M. Cardona, Fundamentals of Semiconductors.

4. J.M. Ziman, Principles of the Theory of Solids.

5. K. Sierański, M. Kubisa, J. Szatkowski, J. Misiewicz, Półprzewodniki i struktury półprzewodnikowe.

6. N.W. Ashcroft, N.D. Mermin, Solid State Physics

Knowledge

1. knows basic topics of wave propagation in solids

2. knows basic properties of metals, semiconductors and isolators

3. knows basic optical methods suitable for studies of condensed matter

4. knows major classical and quantum methods of description of optical properties of condensed matter

5. knows basic categories of elementary excitations in semiconductors

Final evaluation

1. Evaluation of an essay or presentation on a topic related to contemporary optical studies of condensed matter (30% of the final grade).

2. Assessment from the oral exam (70% of the final grade).

3. Attendance at the lecture is not obligatory but highly recommended. In particular deriving theoretical relations, equations and dependencies as well as experimental details will be provided as an extension of the materials available on the lecture website.