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2016　Fundamentals of Optical and Electromagnetic Properties of Semiconductors

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Academic unit or major
Graduate major in Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Instructor(s)
Asada Masahiro 
Class Format
Lecture     
Media-enhanced courses
Day/Period(Room No.)
-
Group
-
Course number
EEE.F431
Credits
1
Academic year
2016
Offered quarter
2Q
Syllabus updated
2017/1/11
Lecture notes updated
-
Language used
Japanese
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Course description and aims

This course focuses on the fundamental optical properties of semiconductors, such as light absorption and emission, based on knowledge from the introduction to semiconductor physics in previous lectures, and creates a bridge to lectures on various optical devices and their applications, such as semiconductor lasers (laser diodes, LDs), light emitting diodes (LEDs), and optical fiber communications. The course schedule includes; interaction between light and matter, light absorption and emission of light, different optical properties between semiconductors (due to bandgap, direct and indirect transitions, and so on), spontaneous and stimulated emissions, lasers, refractive index, and photovoltaic effect.
Optical devices such as semiconductor lasers and light emitting diodes are now widely used in a variety of applications including optical fiber communications and lighting, etc. The operation principle of these devices is successfully utilizing the interaction of electrons with light and optical propagation in semiconductors. The instructor explains the optical properties of semiconductors as the base of these phenomena in relation to device applications.
Based on the above, the aim is for students to develop the skills to roughly plan the choice of semiconductor materials suitable for optical devices and to roughly determine device structures.

Student learning outcomes

Fundamentals of interaction between light and matter, light absorption and emission of light, difference of optical properties among semiconductors (due to bandgap, direct and indirect transitions, and so on), spontaneous and stimulated emissions, the principle of lasers, refractive index, photovoltaic effect are explained. By the end of this course, students will understand principles of various semiconductor optical devices, which will be useful as the base of forthcoming courses on these devices and their applications.

Keywords

Interaction of materials with light, Light absorption, Spontaneous emission, Stimulated emission, Light amplification, Laser, Refractive index, Electro-optic effect

Competencies that will be developed

✔ Specialist skills Intercultural skills Communication skills Critical thinking skills ✔ Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

At the beginning of each class, the contents of the previous class are briefly reviewed. Towards the end of class, students will be given exercise problems or homework related to the lecture given that day to solve.

Course schedule/Required learning

  Course schedule Required learning
Class 1 Fundamentals of light waves, interaction of materials with light Understand fundamentals of light waves (reflection, refraction, and absorption) and interaction between electrons and light in materials.
Class 2 Band structure of semiconductors, direct and indirect transitions Understand the bandstructure of semiconductors and optical transitions of electrons (direct and indirect transitions).
Class 3 Light absorption and emission Understand the absorption and emission of light in semiconductors, and related optical devices.
Class 4 Spontaneous emission and stimulated emission Understand the emission, amplification, gain of light, and understand the difference between the light emitting diodes and semiconductor lasers.
Class 5 Optical gain and principle of lasers Understand the basic structures and characteristics of semiconductor lasers.
Class 6 Polarization, dielectric properties, and refractive index Understand the polarization, refractive index, relation between light absorption coefficient and refractive index, refractive index of semiconductors, and related devices.
Class 7 Electro-optic effect, Optical nonlinearity Understand the Electro-optic effect, optical nonlinearity, and related devices.
Class 8 Photovoltaic effect Understand the photovoltaic effect, light detection, and related devices.

Textbook(s)

TBA

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Kunio Tada, and Shun Matsumoto, Optical Dielectric, and Magnetic Properties of materials, Corona Publishing, ISBN978-4-339-00021-4 (Japanese)
Yasuharu Suematsu, Optical Devices, Corona Publishing, ISBN978-4-339-00159-4 (Japanese)

Assessment criteria and methods

Assessed by final exam on fundamentals of optical and electromagnetic properties of semiconductors and expandable subjects to semiconductor optical devices.

Related courses

  • EEE.E201 ： Electricity and Magnetism I
  • EEE.E202 ： Electricity and Magnetism II
  • EEE.D201 ： Quantum Mechanics
  • EEE.D211 ： Semiconductor Physics
  • EEE.D361 ： Photonic Devices
  • EEE.S361 ： Opto-electronics

Prerequisites (i.e., required knowledge, skills, courses, etc.)

Enrollment in Electricity and Magnetism I and II, Quantum mechanics, Solid state physics is desirable.

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