KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS_________________
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
PHYS 203
Electrical and Magnetic Properties of Materials
Fall 2006 (Term 061)
Instructors:
Prof. N. Tabet, Office: 6/223, Tel. 2443, Email: natabet@kfupm.edu.sa
Dr. M. Faiz, Coordinator, Office: 6/232, Tel. 2284, Email: mmfaiz@kfupm.edu.sa
All announcements, grades, dates of major exams and quizzes will be posted on the
WebCT site: https://webcourses.kfupm.edu.sa/webct/public/home.pl
1. Course Description
The course material includes the following topics: Crystal structure of solids; introduction to
Quantum Mechanics; Energy bands in solids, insulators, semiconductors and conductors;
electrons and holes in intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors in Equilibrium; Carrier Transport
Phenomena, drift and diffusion, mobility, conductivity; Non Equilibrium Excess Carriers in
Semiconductors, Carrier Generation and recombination, carrier lifetime; PN junction at
equilibrium; PN junction diode, I(V) characteristics, breakdown; Bipolar transistor, Junction
Field Effect Transistor (JFET) ; Optoelectronics, optical devices, Solar-cells, photodetectors,
Light Emitting diodes, Laser Diodes.
2. Course Objectives
The objective of PHYS.203 is to introduce the physical concepts that are needed to understand
the working principle, the limitations and the performance of various semiconductor devices.
In less than 50 years, the transistor size has decreased from 1cm to less than 1 micron, that is
10000 times smaller. In December 2004, Intel announced the successful test of a MOSFET of
35nm gate length. We are moving from the era of Micro-electronics to that of Nano-electronics.
The recent development of the Nanotechnology allows the manipulation of atoms and
molecules. Atomic and molecular devices are already tested in research laboratories.
Understanding the behaviour of devices made of few nanometer size only require modern physics
and more specifically Quantum Mechanics. Discussing the fundamentals of Quantum
Mechanics is out the scope of this course. However, we present in the first chapter some of its
basic concepts that will help us move forward.
All devices considered in this course are semiconductor devices. Understanding their working
principal requires, therefore, to analyze the properties of semiconductors. The first part of the
course deals with the physics of semiconductors (Chap.1-6). These theoretical chapters will help
us understand why and how the electrical properties of semiconductors can be drastically
changed.
The rest of the course describes the working principle of various devices. First, the p-n junction
is considered, then, the Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT) and the Junction Field Effect
Transistor (JFET). Finally, the last chapter is dedicated to Optoelectronics. This part includes
solar cells, photodetectors, Light emitting diodes and Laser diode.
Emphasis is put on the physical processes that determine the performance of the semiconductor
devices. The relationship between the material properties and the device performance is stressed.
Examples: effect of the impurities and defects on the lifetime and mobility of carriers, on the
efficiency of solar-cells, on the gain and the speed of photodetectors, on the performances of
diodes and transistors, criteria that determine the choice of materials for optoelectronics
applications,…
Few home made Laboratory demonstrations will be arranged during the semester. These demos
include the temperature effect of the conductivity of semiconductors, plotting the I(V)
characteristics of diodes, Light emitting diodes, photoconductors and solar cells.
In summary, it is hoped that at the end of the course, students who do not have a ‘strong dislike’
for physics, will understand and appreciate the tremendous contribution of physicists to the
technological revolution of this century.
2. Prerequisite:
PHYS 102
3. Textbook: "Semiconductor Physics and Devices", D. Neamen, McGraw Hill, 3rd Ed., 2003.
Additional References:
1. “Introductory Semiconductor Device Physics” , Greg Parker, Prentice Hall, 1994
2. “Solid State Electronic Devices”, Ben G. Streetman, Prentice Hall, 4th Edition, 1995
3. "Semiconductor Devices", Kanaan Kano, Prentice Hall, 1998
4. Grading
Quizzes:
Major 1:
Major 2:
Final Exam:
policy:
20%
20%
20%
40%
IMPORTANT REMARKS
1. Absences: Be on time for classes. Attendance record will be considered for boarder line
cases. A DN grade will be given to students exceeding 9 unexcused absences.
2. Homework: You are not expected to return the homework, but you are urged to solve all
problems. The solutions will be posted on the WebCT site.
3. Quizzes : A Quiz will be given at the end of each chapter. You are advised to work out the
homework problems before the quiz (not just glance at the solutions!).
There is no make up for the quizzes. The quiz is cancelled for students who have a justified
absence.
4. Make up exams will be given only for students who have officially documented excuses.
PHYS-203 Lecture Schedule
Fall 2006 (Term 061)
Week
1
09-13 Sep. 2006
2
14-18 Sep. 2006
Topics
The Crystal Structure of Solids
Introduction to Quantum Mechanics, Energy levels in
atoms
Chapter
01
Sections
1-5
02
1, 4
Tuesday – 19 Sep. 2006 - Last day for dropping courses without permanent record
3
20-27 Sep. 2006
Introduction to the Quantum Theory of Solids:
4-5
30 Sep. -11Oct.
The Semiconductor in Equilibrium
03
1-5
04
1-6
Carrier Transport Phenomena
05
1,2,4
Non equilibrium excess carriers in Semiconductors
06
1-2
Energy levels in solids, conductors, semiconductors, insulators
Eid Al-Fitr Vacation ( 12– 27 Oct. 2006 )
6
28-30 Oct. 2006
6
01 Nov. 2006
Sunday – 05 Nov. 2006 – First Major Exam (Chapters 1 – 4) 7:00 – 8:30 PM OAB
Tuesday – 07 Nov. 2006 - Last day for dropping courses with grade of W
7-8
04-15 Nov. 2006
PN Junction
07
1-3
9-10
PN Junction Diode
08
18-29 Nov. 2006
Wednesday - 29 Nov. 2006 - Last day for withdrawal from ALL courses with grade of W
1-4
11-12
02-13 Dec. 2006
1-4
Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT)
10
Saturday – 09 Dec. 2006 – Second Major Exam (Chapters 5 – 8) 7:00 – 8:30 PM OAB
13
1-2
The Junction Field Effect Transsitor (JFET)
13
16-20 Dec. 2006
Eid al-Adha Vacation
( 21 Dec. 2006 - 05 Jan. 2007 )
14-15
06-17 Jan. 2007
1-3,5
Optoelectronics: Solar cells, Photodetectors, LED,
14
and Laser Diodes
Saturday - 27 January 2007 - Final Exam (Chapters 1 – 14) 7:00 - 10:00 PM
Wish you a successful semester
Dr. N. Tabet & Dr. M. Faiz