Electronic Properties of Materials

Catalog description

This course develops a fundamental understanding of the physical principles underlying the electronic and thermal behavior of solids, with emphasis on metals and semiconductors. Topics include quantum and statistical mechanics as applied to solids, chemical bonding and the origin of energy bands, electrons and phonons in electrical and thermal conductivity, carrier generation, diffusion, and drift, and the role of junctions and interfaces in controlling material properties. Applications to selected devices and emerging technologies will be introduced primarily to illustrate the core principles.