Semiconductors and Devices

Code:

F4029

Acronym:

F4029

Level:

400

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Physics

Instance: 2023/2024 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Physics and Astronomy
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Physics

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
M:A_ASTR	0	Study plan since academic year 2023/2024	1	-	6	42	162
			2
M:CTN	0	Official Study Plan since 2020_M:CTN	1	-	6	42	162
M:EF	25	Official Study Plan since 2021_M:EF	1	-	6	42	162
M:F	4	Official Study Plan	1	-	6	42	162

Teaching language

Portuguese and english

Objectives

After completion of this course, the student should:

a) Understand the historical Importance of Semiconductors

b) Understand the physical concepts behind semiconductors

c) Know the relation between crystalline structures, energy bands and electrical properties in semiconductors

d) Know and understand the transport properties in semiconductors

e) Be familiar with Semiconductor statistics

f) Identify and understand the applications of semiconductor materials in devices

Learning outcomes and competences

This course starts with a historical introduction to raise the students interest in the topic and helping reach the learning objective a). 

Programmatic Units 2, 3 and 4,  begin by allowing the students to review previous concepts fundamentals to the understanding of the rest of these units,  where they are introduced to the physical phenomena that explain semiconductor behaviour (objectives b, c).

Units 5 and 6 introduce transport phenoma and statistics in semiconductors reinforcing the learning outcomes b) and c) and enabling d) and e).

Finally, previous concepts are applied to progressively more complex semiconductor devices during units 7,8,9 and 10, in line with learning outcome (f).

 

Working method

Presencial

Program

1-Historical introduction.

2-Quantum Mechanics Revision.

3-Energy bands in semiconductors.

4-Electron dynamics in energy bands.

5-Equilibrium Statistics of Semicondutors.

6-Transport phenomena.

7-p-n junction.

8-Bipolar Transistors.

9-Unipolar devices.

10-Photonic devices.

Mandatory literature

Donald Neamen; Semiconductor Physics And Devices

Complementary Bibliography

Davies, J. ; The Physics of Low-dimensional Semiconductors: An Introduction., Cambridge (UK): Cambridge University Press., 2000
Anderson, B., Anderson, R.; Fundamentals of Semiconductor Devices., International Edition. Singapore (Asia): McGraw-Hill., 2005
Bar-Lev, A. ; Semiconductors and Electronic Devices. , 1993

Teaching methods and learning activities

Teaching will occur by alternating predominantly expository moments with guided exercises, aimed to aid the understanding of the ideas presented.

Teaching will be carried out in a continuous manner. This requires a commitment to responsible attendance during the semester  by the students. Learning implies dedicated work and participated attendance of all students in the acquisition of skills.

Weekly exercise sheets (to be submitted for revision weekly) include problems focused on helping the student consolidate their understanding of the concepts presented in the classes, allowing for constant monitoring by the students throughout the course of their individual progress and enabling the teacher to identify comprehension issues and act immediately in the following class.

The final exam allows the confirmation that the global objectives have been reached.

keywords

Physical sciences > Physics > Electronics > Microelectronics
Physical sciences > Physics
Physical sciences > Physics > Condensed matter properties > Physics of semiconductors
Physical sciences > Physics > Solid state physics

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	75,00
Trabalho prático ou de projeto	25,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	120,00
Frequência das aulas	42,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

O estudante deve cumprir a assiduidade, em conformidade com os regulamentos vigentes da FCUP.

Calculation formula of final grade

CF = 25%TP + 75%E

CF: Final grade
E: Final exam grade
TP: Practical assignment grade

Classification improvement

According to the “Regulamento de Avaliação do Aproveitamento dos Estudantes da FCUP”.

Exam.

The student can only improve the exam grade.

Observations

Juri Members
Bruno Soares
João Pedro Araújo