SPIE - Education Semiconductor Photonic Device Fundamentals SC747

Updated for 2020, this course presents the fundamentals of the operation of the broad range of semiconductor photonic devices used for light generation, modulation, manipulation, detection and application, covering the optical spectral region from UV, visible, IR, through terahertz (sub-mm). The course begins with a review of the basics of semiconductor materials, with emphasis on their electrical and photonic properties. Following a description of the motion of electrons and holes, photon absorption, generation and manipulation is reviewed. This leads into explanation of fundamental semiconductor device structures such as p-n junctions, Schottky barriers, quantum wells, wires and dots, Bragg reflectors, quantum cascade lasers as tunable coherent infrared sources, VCSELs, distributed feedback lasers, avalanching, tunneling and important photonic device effects. Current photonic device research as well as commercially available photonic devices and exciting new system applications including infrared spectroscopy using optical frequency combs will be explained. Course participants will gain an in-depth understanding of semiconductor photonic devices, their figures of merit, limitations, applications, and current research.