University of Utah

Semiconductor Optoelectronic Devices

ECE 6262
Spring 2006

UU College of Engineering

Modern optical communication networks, optical sensing technologies, and even some laser machining tools rely on semiconductor optoelectronic devices. Examples of devices include diode lasers, photodetectors and light emitting diodes. Our understanding of the interaction of light with semiconductors provides the basis for engineering these devices, and that understanding in turn comes from quantum mechanical models of electrons within semiconductor crystals. The first third of the class covers electromagnetics, quantum mechanics, and semiconductor physics, ending with a model for light absorption based on Fermi's Golden rule. These basics prepare the ground for discussions of pn junction devices as well as quantum cascade lasers.

Instructor
Mark Miller (mark.miller@utah.edu)
Office: 314 EMRO. Phone: 587-7718
Office hours: W 1:30 – 2:30
Teaching Assistants
TBA
Office: TBA
TBA
Text Physics of Optoelectronic Devices, by Shun Lien Chuang (1995), ISBN 0471109398.

Lectures Tuesday and Thursday, 12:25 - 1:45, EMRL 241

lectures (reading) topics and activities
1, 2 (Chapter 1) Overview of course; devices, bonds, bands, heterostructures and models -- tools.
2 - 6 (2.1 - 2.5) Semiconductor physics review.
7 - 9 (3.1 - 3.4) Basic engineering quantum mechanics.
10, 11 (3.5, 3.7) Perturbation theory and Fermi's golden rule.
12, 13 (4.1, 4.7, 4.8) Semiconductor bands.
14, 15 (5.1, 5.2) Electromagnetics.
Midterm Exam .
16 - 19 (Chapter 9) Optical processes in semiconductors.
20, 21 (Chapter 10) Semiconductor diode lasers.
22, 23 (handout) Quantum cascade lasers.
24, 25 (Chapter 14) Photodiode detectors.
26 (handout) Free carrier absorption.
27 Review.
Final Exam Comprehensive.

Homework
Homework will be due in class.
Final Exam

Exams
There will be a midterm exam and a comprehensive final exam.

Grading
The course grade will be distributed as: 15% homework, 15% paper, 30% midterm, and 40% for the final exam.

Cheating and Collaboration
Cheating will not be tolerated, and will at least result in a failing grade for the assignment or exam and may result in a failing grade for the class with referral to the University Student Behavior Committee. However, collaboratively working with others on assignments and in study groups can greatly facilitate learning the material. Guidelines for avoiding cheating include:
  • The final written document or assignment must be the individual's own work, with proper reference given to material or ideas taken from other people or sources.
  • For homework sets solved collaboratively, each student turns in their own solutions and indicates who they collaborated with.
  • Exams must be written without communication or collaboration with others. For example, sharing a calculator in an exam will at least result in no credit for the exam.
  • Allowing someone else to cheat from ones work is also cheating.
Device Paper
A report with a short presentation will done on an optoelectronic device reported recently in the literature, chosen by the student.

College of Engineering course policy guidelines. (PDF 16 kB)