Physics for electronics

At the end of the module, students will be able to:

Draw energy band diagrams
Formulate the neutrality equation from charge carrier concentrations
Associate a transport mechanism with a doping profile
Represent a doping profile
Determine, calculate and interpret electrical characteristics (charge density, electric field, electric potential) in the context of a given material structure

Mathematics Bachelor's degree 2 or equivalent, basic physics particle, atom, energy level Bachelor's degree 2 or equivalent, electronics Bachelor's degree 2 or equivalent

Chapter I: Semiconductor structure.

General information on materials for microelectronics.
Energy levels of the atom
The silicon atom and crystal
Intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors.
Fermi level.
Energy band diagram

Chapter II: Transport phenomena in semiconductors.

Electrical conduction of carriers, notion of carrier mobility
Carrier diffusion

Chapter III: Semiconductors out of thermal equilibrium.

Injection levels
Semiconductor out of equilibrium
Continuity equations.
Return to equilibrium in time and space

Chapter IV: The PN junction

Physical structure of a PN diode
Notion of concentration profile
Thermal equilibrium junction.

Studies of the space charge zone and neutral zones (charge density, potential, electric field)
Carrier distribution in the junction
Qualitative study of diffusion and conduction currents
Energy band diagram


Junction out of thermal equilibrium

Carrier distribution in forward and reverse bias
Energy band diagram out of equilibrium
Current calculation
Capacitive effects

This course is an introduction to semiconductor physics. Topics covered include:

Definition of a semiconductor material
Electrical energy band diagram
Intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors (N, P doping)
Charge transport mechanisms (conduction and diffusion)
PN junction at thermodynamic equilibrium

Teaching in French.