Charge Transport In Low Dimensional Semiconductor Structures

This book offers, from both a theoretical and a computational perspective, an analysis of macroscopic mathematical models for description of charge transport in electronic devices, in particular in the presence of confining effects, such as in the double gate MOSFET. The models are derived from the semiclassical Boltzmann equation by means of the moment method and are closed by resorting to the maximum entropy principle. In the case of confinement, electrons are treated as waves in the confining direction by solving a one-dimensional Schrödinger equation obtaining subbands, while the longitudinal transport of subband electrons is described semiclassically. Limiting energy-transport and drift-diffusion models are also obtained by using suitable scaling procedures. An entire chapter in the book is dedicated to a promising new material like graphene. The models appear to be sound and sufficiently accurate for systematic use in computer-aided design simulators for complex electron devices. The book is addressed to applied mathematicians, physicists, and electronic engineers. It is written for graduate or PhD readers but the opening chapter contains a modicum of semiconductor physics, making it self-consistent and useful also for undergraduate students.

Low-Dimensional Semiconductor Structures provides a seamless, atoms-to-devices introduction to the latest quantum heterostructures. It covers their fabrication, their electronic, optical and transport properties, their role in exploring physical phenomena, and their utilization in devices. The authors begin with a detailed description of the epitaxial growth of semiconductors. They then deal with the physical behaviour of electrons and phonons in low-dimensional structures. A discussion of localization effects and quantum transport phenomena is followed by coverage of the optical properties of quantum wells. They then go on to discuss non-linear optics in quantum heterostructures. The final chapters deal with semiconductor lasers, mesoscopic devices, and high-speed heterostructure devices. The book contains many exercises and comprehensive references. It is suitable as a textbook for graduate-level courses in electrical engineering and applied physics. It will also be of interest to engineers involved in the development of semiconductor devices.

Starting with the first transistor in 1949, the world has experienced a technological revolution which has permeated most aspects of modern life, particularly over the last generation. Yet another such revolution looms up before us with the newly developed capability to control matter on the nanometer scale. A truly extraordinary research effort, by scientists, engineers, technologists of all disciplines, in nations large and small throughout the world, is directed and vigorously pressed to develop a full understanding of the properties of matter at the nanoscale and its possible applications, to bring to fruition the promise of nanostructures to introduce a new generation of electronic and optical devices. The physics of low dimensional semiconductor structures, including heterostructures, superlattices, quantum wells, wires and dots is reviewed and their modeling is discussed in detail. The truly exceptional material, Graphene, is reviewed; its functionalization and Van der Waals interactions are included here. Recent research on optical studies of quantum dots and on the physical properties of one-dimensional quantum wires is also reported. Chapters on fabrication of nanowire – based nanogap devices by the dielectrophoretic assembly approach. The broad spectrum of research reported here incorporates chapters on nanoengineering and nanophysics. In its presentation of tutorial chapters as well as advanced research on nanostructures, this book is ideally suited to meet the needs of newcomers to the field as well as experienced researchers interested in viewing colleagues’ recent advances.

Presenting the latest advances in artificial structures, this volume discusses in-depth the structure and electron transport mechanisms of quantum wells, superlattices, quantum wires, and quantum dots. It will serve as an invaluable reference and review for researchers and graduate students in solid-state physics, materials science, and electrical and electronic engineering.

This book describes most recent progress in the properties, synthesis, characterization, modelling, and applications of nanomaterials and nanodevices. It begins with the review of the modelling of the structural, electronic and optical properties of low dimensional and nanoscale semiconductors, methodology of synthesis, and characterization of quantum dots and nanowires, with special attention towards Dirac materials, whose electrical conduction and sensing properties far exceed those of silicon-based materials, making them strong competitors. The contributed reviews presented in this book touch on broader issues associated with the environment, as well as energy production and storage, while highlighting important achievements in materials pertinent to the fields of biology and medicine, exhibiting an outstanding confluence of basic physical science with vital human endeavor. The subjects treated in this book are attractive to the broader readership of graduate and advanced undergraduate students in physics, chemistry, biology, and medicine, as well as in electrical, chemical, biological, and mechanical engineering. Seasoned researchers and experts from the semiconductor/device industry also greatly benefit from the book’s treatment of cutting-edge application studies.

This Advanced Study Institute on the Electronic Properties of Multilayers and Low Dimensional Semiconductor Structures focussed on several of the most active areas in modern semiconductor physics. These included resonant tunnelling and superlattice phenomena and the topics of ballistic transport, quantised conductance and anomalous magnetoresistance effects in laterally gated two-dimensional electron systems. Although the main emphasis was on fundamental physics, a series of supporting lectures described the underlying technology (Molecular Beam Epitaxy, Metallo-Organic Chemical Vapour Deposition, Electron Beam Lithography and other advanced processing technologies). Actual and potential applications of low dimensional structures in optoelectronic and high frequency devices were also discussed. The ASI took the form of a series of lectures of about fifty minutes' duration which were given by senior researchers from a wide range of countries. Most of the lectures are recorded in these Proceedings. The younger members of the Institute made the predominant contribution to the discussion sessions following each lecture and, in addition, provided most of the fifty-five papers that were presented in two lively poster sessions. The ASl emphasised the impressive way in which this research field has developed through the fruitful interaction of theory, experiment and semiconductor device technology. Many of the talks demonstrated both the effectiveness and limitations of semiclassical concepts in describing the quantum phenomena exhibited by electrons in low dimensional structures.

This book brings together concepts from semiconductor physics, nonlinear-dynamics and chaos to examine semiconductor transport phenomena.

As materials whose semiconducting properties are influenced by magnetic ions, DMSs are central to the emerging field of spintronics. This volume focuses both on basic physical mechanisms (e.g. carrier-ion and ion-ion interactions), and resulting phenomena.