Semiconductor Optics 1: Linear Optical Properties of Semiconductors

559 Pages·2019·25.101 MB·English

by  Heinz Kalt, Claus F. Klingshirn

Graduate Texts in Physics
Heinz Kalt · Claus F. Klingshirn
Semiconductor
Optics 1
Linear Optical Properties of
Semiconductors
Fifth Edition
Graduate Texts in Physics
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Jean-Marc Di Meglio, Matière et Systèmes Complexes, Bâtiment Condorcet,
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Heinz Kalt Claus F. Klingshirn
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Semiconductor Optics 1
Linear Optical Properties of Semiconductors
Fifth Edition
123
Heinz Kalt ClausF. Klingshirn
Institute of Applied Physics Institute of Applied Physics
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
ISSN 1868-4513 ISSN 1868-4521 (electronic)
Graduate Textsin Physics
ISBN978-3-030-24150-6 ISBN978-3-030-24152-0 (eBook)
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To Elisabeth, Patrick and Sebastian
Preface
Semiconductors materials are nowadays found in an uncountable number of
optoelectronic devices and applications assisting our everyday life. Examples are
light-emitting diodes providing lighting in houses and cars, semiconductor lasers
used for the transmission of data in the Internet or of telephone calls, solar cells
converting sun light into electric current, and optical sensors including the camera
chip integrated in our smartphones.
Realization of such high-performance devices is only possible, if the under-
standing of the semiconducting properties of the employed materials and related
structures is well developed. The quantum mechanical properties of electrons in
semiconductors are well described by the concepts of quasi-particles, effective
mass,bandstructures,etc.,whichwewillillustrateindetailinthisbook.Additional
quantizationofquasi-particlepropertieshasbeenintroducedartificiallybyreducing
thedimensionalityofsemiconductorstructuresto(quasi-)two(quantumwells),one
(quantum wires), and zero dimensions (quantum dots). We shall also treat these
aspectsinthisbookindetail.Then,thequantumwellshavebeenstackedseparated
bynarrowbarrierstoformsuperlattices,quantumdotshavebeenassembledtoform
one-,two-,orthree-dimensionalarrays,andphotonicatomsareputtogethertoform
photonic crystals’ various dimensions. All of this is nowadays used to improve or
even create new optoelectronic devices.
In this sense, one has the impression that the field of semiconductor science,
includingoptics,tendstowardmaturity.Butthereareconstantlynewfieldsofbasic
and applied semiconductor research coming up. For example, in the case of the
Group-III Nitrides used, e.g., in Blu-ray disk players or white light-emitting diode
(LEDs), material science was able to fabricate highly efficient devices, while a
thorough understanding of electronic and optical properties was still missing.
Optimization of the properties and in particular the development of green-emitting
nitride-basedlaserdiodesneededextensivecollaborativeresearchefforts.Afterthe
explodinginterestinZnO,oneofthenewstarsinthesemiconductorcommunityare
organic/inorganic metal-halide Perovskites. These materials show enormous
potentialforapplications,e.g.,inthin-filmsolarcellsbutstillneedtobedeveloped
further.Equallypromisingaremonolayersemiconductorswhichopenupnewareas
vii
viii Preface
of physics due to their outstanding properties (quasi-relativistic electrons,
spin-valley coupling). Often materials are incorporated in photonic structures like
optical cavities to explore new physics like polariton condensation or possible
applications like single-photon emitters and quantum information technologies.
It is obvious that semiconductor optics will be an active and exciting field of
research for the next decades. We are convinced that a comprehensive knowledge
of semiconductor optics as presented in this book is essential for further
innovations.
In this light, the aim of this book is to explain the optical properties of semi-
conductorsinthevisiblepartandtheadjacentinfraredandultravioletregionsofthe
electromagneticspectrum.Wewanttoelucidatetheinteractionoflightwithvarious
quasi-particle excitations of semiconductors like phonons, electrons, excitons, etc.
Thiswillnotonlyallowustounderstandthepropagationoflightinthematerialas
wellasitsabsorptioninthebulkanditsreflectionandrefractionatinterfaces.From
the knowledge of this interaction, we will learn how to reveal the intrinsic prop-
ertiesofsemiconductorsbyopticalspectroscopy.Wewillfurtherseehowemission,
absorption, or modulation of light by semiconductors can be utilized for the mul-
titude of applications mentioned above.
The idea is to evoke in the reader an intuitive phenomenological understanding
of the physical concepts and foundations of semiconductor optics. The mathe-
matical apparatus is thus developed as simple as possible but elaborate enough to
describe the main semiconductor properties and their experimental signatures. In
this spirit, this present textbook is not only suitable for graduate and postgraduate
students of physics, but also for students of neighboring disciplines, such as
materialscienceandelectronics.Theprerequisitesforthereaderareanintroductory
or undergraduate course in general physics and some basic knowledge in atomic
physics and quantum mechanics. Comprehension of solid-state physics will facil-
itatereadingofthisbook,althoughthebasicconceptswillalwaysbeoutlinedhere.
Contentandstructureofthistextbooksupporttheconceptsofresearch-oriented
teaching. The reader is provided with a solid theoretical and phenomenological
background. The latter is illustrated by schematic drawings and by a multitude of
experimental results mainly from optical spectroscopy. Important experimental
techniquesusedtoproducetheresultsaredescribedininserts.Problemsareissued
toapplytheteachingandlearningcontenttorealisticexamplesandtoexploremore
advanced topics in the literature. We also give ample reference to original publi-
cations to motivate further reading and facilitate deeper studies of summarized
content.
Finally,somecommentsshouldbemadeonthenewappearanceandstructureof
thisbook.Mostimportant,afterC.Klingshirnretiredacoupleofyearsagoitwasa
natural consequence that I took over the further development of this textbook.
I have taught courses on “Semiconductor Optics” for many years starting in 1987
duringmypostdocperiodatNorthTexasStateUniversityinDenton(Texas).These
courses were based to a large extent on the tutorials I previously attended as a
doctoral candidate in C. Klingshirn’s research group. After finally becoming a
colleague of C. Klingshirn at Universität Karlsruhe (TH), we joined forces in our
Preface ix
research activities. About 30 years of close interaction in research, teaching, and
academic life had a fruitful impact not only on my vocational career. Many joint
research results as well as didactic concepts developed during this period of close
cooperation are documented in this book.
I already mentioned the continuous evolution of semiconductor optics over the
years. This has made the textbook on Semiconductor Optics to grow considerably
in size up to the forth edition of 2012. A rearrangement of the content and its
presentation was necessary for this new edition. The book has been split into two
volumes to be able to accommodate new research topics like monolayer semi-
conductors, spin optoelectronics, or excitonic condensates in an appropriate way.
On the other hand, consolidation of some of the previous content was necessary.
The first volume of this textbook contains the topics related to linear optical
properties. We will outline the content in the introduction (Chap. 1). The second
volume will cover the topics nonlinear optics, high excitation phenomena,
quasi-particleinteraction,coherenceandrelaxationdynamicsofopticalexcitations,
and new phases of such excitations like the electron–hole plasma and liquid or
excitonic condensates. Phenomena like optical bistability, single-photon emission,
optical gain or spin storage and manipulation will be covered as well as their
applications in photonics, optoelectronics, and quantum information.
Karlsruhe, Germany Heinz Kalt
February 2019
Acknowledgements
I am most grateful to Claus Klingshirn who introduced me to the area of semi-
conductor optics. He taught me that a descriptive approach is essential for the
successful teaching of comprehensive topics and that an intuitive understanding of
physic helps progressing research.
I was lucky to have had caring mentors who promoted my career not only by
providing financial support, but also by valuable advice and through teaching.
ParticularmentioningdeserveClausKlingshirn(formerlyatJ.W.GoetheUniversität
zuFrankfurt,UniversitätKaiserslauternandUniversitätKarlsruhe(TH)),ArtSmirl
(formerly at Center for Applied Quantum Electronics, NTSU, Denton), as well as
WolfgangRühleandHans-JoachimQueisser(bothformerlyatMaxPlanckInstitut
fürFestkörperforschung,Stuttgart).
Iprofitedalotfrominspiringdiscussionsandfruitfulscientificcooperationwith
a multitude of colleagues. There are too many to name them all. I only want to
explicitly thank Klaus Bohnert and Vadim Lyssenko who supported me with their
knowledge and patience when I started into new chapters of my scientific career.
I also want to thank Michael Hetterich for many years of common research and
teaching in semiconductor optics.
It was fun and fulfilling to teach or supervise a host of students, doctoral
researchers,andpostdocs.Theirbrilliantideasandsometimesdemandingquestions
essentiallyformedmyscientificknowledgeandunderstanding.Manyofthesecon-
tributionsledtowell-receivedpublicationsandfoundtheirmentioninginthisbook.
Finally, I want to acknowledge the valuable contributions of Kurt Hümmer to
the appendix on group theory.
Karlsruhe, Germany Heinz Kalt
February 2019
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