Physique des semi-conducteurs et de l'état solide

Free electrons in metals: Drude and Sommerfeld models.

Basic crystallography (Bravais lattices in direct and reciprocal spaces) and introduction to diffraction.

Electrons in a crystalline periodic potential (Bloch functions, nearly-free electrons approximation , approximation of the linear combination of atomic orbitals, ...).

Cohesion energy in solids.

Semi-classical conduction model in solid materials (electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, thermoelectric effects, ...).

Band structure of metallic materials (theoretical aspects and description of experimental techniques).

Basic semiconductor physics (concept of electrons and holes, doping, ...).Semiconductors in thermal equilibrium (evolution of the Fermi level, of the electron and hole densities, ... depending on the temperature, pn junction at thermal equilibrium) .

Semiconductor outside thermal equilibrium.

Description of the basic electronic devices (junction diodes, junction transistors, ...).

Understanding of the conduction mechanism in the crystalline solids. Undersanding the basic electronic devices (p-n junction, junction transistor, ...).

Required and corequired courses

The course includes 36 hours of ex-cathedra courses, 12 hours of exercises and 12 hours of laboratories.

The laboratories are especially oriented to the operation of basic semiconductor devices.

References, bibliography, and recommended reading

N.W. Ashcroft and N.D. Mermin, Solid State Physics, Saunders College Publishing.

S.M. Sze, Physics of Semiconductor Devices, John Wiley & Sons.

Books available at the University Library.

Contacts

Prof. Yves LOUIS

ylouis@ulb.ac.be

room S.C.4.320

Method(s) of evaluation

• Other

Other

Oral examinations for the theory and exercises. Continuous evaluation for the laboratories.

Mark calculation method (including weighting of intermediary marks)

Theory and exercices : 85%

Laboratories : 15%

Language(s) of evaluation

• french