Course Overview
The emphasis of this two-day course is on providing basic background material for understanding semiconductor optoelectronics as well as a clear understanding of the fundamental operating principles and state-of-the-art of diode lasers, LEDs, modulators and detectors. The course will also describe how devices are designed, produced, evaluated, handled and operated, and will present a comprehensive overview of currently available optoelectronic and photonic devices and discuss current areas of development.
Course Topics
Semiconductor Optoelectronics & Materials
- Introduction to Semiconductor Optoelectronics & Materials
- Review of Semiconductor Basics
- Charge carriers and the PN Junction
- Define minority carriers and Fermi-level semiconductors
- Describe group IV, III-V, and II-VI semiconductors
- Study bandgap and refractive index control by epitaxial growth
- Explain strained-layer structures and superlattices
- Summarize methods of growing nanostructure epitaxial films with monolayer control
Diode Lasers and LEDs: Basic Properties
- Explain basics of diode lasers and LEDs
- Derive origin of laser modes
- Device response speed limitations
- Discuss optical confinement structures
- Describe quantum wells, quantum wires and quantum dots
- Introduce photonic lattice structures and their characteristics
- Introduce photonic bandgap (photonic crystal) structure concepts
- Distinguish between UV, visible, near-IR, mid-IR, longwear-IR, far-IR, and terahertz optodevices
Operation of Lasers and Modulators
- Describe quantum well and quantum dot lasers
- Discuss edge emitters and surface emitters (VCSELS)
- Review high power laser arrays and their uses
- Explain DFB and DBR lasers
- Describe Quantum Cascade Lasers
- Present commercially available lasers and reliability
- Explain electroabsorption modulators
Optical Radiation Detectors and Applications
- Discuss the photon detection mechanism
- Review detector materials and spectral properties
- Present detector figures of merit
- Describe photoconductors and photodiodes
- Discuss operation of PIN, APD and QWIP devices
- Describe thermal images
- Review operation and use of CCDs
Who Should Attend
Those working in the field of optics and to those using optoelectronic devices in all applications.