The basis of this book was the program on the physics of semiconductors and the book is written for students providing a certain imprint on the method of presentation of the material.
In the last 2 centuries, we have seen a tremendous surge in technology. Things that once believed to be only possible in a science fiction world have now become a reality. Although great intellectual minds such as Albert Einstein and Nikola Tesla may have already imagined a technologically advanced future, 50 years ago it would have been hard to envision the reality that we live in today. What started as pin-hole camera, meant to take single vintage photos, has now become a digital camera available to almost everyone with a cellular phone. Once a sign of wealth, having a television is now affordable even to low-income families.Semiconductors alone are to be credited for this rapid expansion in the realm of technology. Every electronic gadget we see today is built with semiconductors. It is semiconductors that allow a specific set of colors to emit through a laptop screen, to make it look like a moving image. Moreover, we are surrounded by semiconductors to such degree that it is almost impossible to imagine our lives without them.During the past few decades, a phenomenal boost in the development of electronics has spread across the globe. To meet the required high technical skills in demand, electronics has become one of the most significant subjects in engineering. There is, therefore, a sudden need to keep up with the technological advances and to continuously update our knowledge of semiconductor physics.This book comprises of a total of ten chapters that will take the reader to the magnificent world of semiconductors. Every chapter encompasses specific topics that cover an in-depth knowledge of the most common types of semiconductors. Illustrations are a key to convey complex ideas difficult to grasp. For a better and clearer understanding of the science involved, each topic combines scientific description with complementary diagrams and graphs. This book aims to be accessible to everyone who wishes to gain updated knowledge and to keep up with the advances in this rapidly expanding era of technology.
