Materials Science and Engineering B97 (2003) 288
[Link]/locate/mseb
Book review
Semiconductor Physics and Applications, M. Balkanski Pockels, Kerr and Franz-Keldysch electro /optical ef-
and R.F. Wallis, Oxford: Oxford University Press (2000) fects are described accurately and simply at the same
time. One can even find an introduction to the quantum
The aim of this volume is to provide an up-to-date Hall effect, including the fractional quantum Hall effect
textbook covering the physics and applications of in this volume. Unconventional semiconductors such as
semiconductors at the advanced undergraduate and the layered III /VI compounds GaSe or InSe are
beginning graduate levels. It assumes that the reader considered together with their potential use as ionic
has a correct knowledge of basic quantum physics, conductors once intercalated. In this respect one can be
statistical physics and electromagnetic theory, but not surprised not to find any reference in this book to the
necessarily the knowledge of elementary solid-state group III nitrides which have already an important
physics. The book is divided in to two parts: the first place in the market of light emitting devices; this is
one (chapters 1 /11) is devoted to the basic physics of probably due to the fact that the authors wanted to
semiconductors whilst the second one (chapters 12/20) avoid duplication with the book [1], edited by Bernard
deals with the applications of semiconductors to prac- Gill, devoted to these materials which was published 2
tical devices with emphasis on the basic physical years before this volume by the same publisher.
principles upon which the devices operates; the book This book presents one educational innovation: every
passes very smoothly from the basic physic part to the chapter starts by a description of the key ideas contained
devices one. in the chapter. This is indicative of the will of the
The basic physics of semiconductors part first pre- authors to outline the physical principles underlying the
sents the basic characteristics of semiconductors: com- properties of semiconductors and the operation of
position, structure and bonding, the electronic energy devices. I appreciate very much this innovation and I
bands and the dynamics of electrons and holes in these consider that it is a very useful one. Pertinent problem
bands. The effect of impurities on the electronic proper- sets and references appear at the end of each chapter.
ties, the semiconductor statistics and lattice dynamics I consider that this is an excellent book useful for
are then described. This allows the authors to treat the students in physics as well as for students in engineering
charge carrier scattering and transport properties. of devices. A student possessing the content of this book
Finally, the surface, optical, magneto /optical and is able to read any specialized book devoted to
electro/optical properties of semiconductors are pre- semiconductor physics or semiconductor devices.
sented.
The application part starts with the introduction of
the p/n junction and of the bipolar junction transistor
before dealing with lasers and photodevices. Four References
chapters are devoted to the electronic, optical and
transport properties of heterostructures and to phonons [1] Nitride Semiconductors Compounds */Physics and Applications,
in superlattices. Metal-semiconductor devices, including B. Gill (Ed.), Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1998.
metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors, are
introduced and applications of semiconductor hetero-
structures, such as heterojunction bipolar transistors Bernard Clerjaud *
and multiple quantum well lasers for instance, are Laboratoire d’Optique des Solides, Université Pierre et
described. Marie Curie, Case Courrier 80, 4, Place Jussieu, F-75252
This is a book, which is at the same time very Paris Cedex 05, France
accessible to students and complete. For instance, E-mail address: bec@[Link]
* Fax: /33-1-44-27-44-47.
0921-5107/02/$ - see front matter # 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
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