2023-2024 / ELEN0069-1

Nanoelectronics / Optoelectronics

Duration

30h Th, 40h Proj.

Number of credits

 Master of Science (MSc) in Electrical Engineering5 crédits 
 Master of Science (MSc) in Engineering Physics5 crédits 
 Advanced Master in Nanotechnologies5 crédits 

Lecturer

Benoît Vanderheyden

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

This course is a follow-up of the course "ELEN004-1 - Physical electronics". It comprises two parts:

  • optoelectronic part: fundamental mechanisms for the emission or the absorption of an electromagnetic radiation by a semiconductor; exploitation of these mechanisms in optoelectronical devices;
  • nanoelectronic part: presentation of the technical and physical limitations faced by the integrated electronics industry; main elements of wave mechanics; discussion of the physical mechanisms that will potentially be used in future applications of integrated electronics.
More specifically, the following elements are seen:
heterostructures, electrical and optical properties of low-dimensionality devices (MODFET, quantum wells, wires, and dots), tunnel effect, mesoscopic effects and devices of nanometric sizes.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

To be able to:





  • explain how basic optoelectronic devices work;
  • understand the relationships between the orders of magnitude of the involved physical mechanisms and the design constraints of such devices;
  • explain the main technical and physical limitations of integrated electronic devices;
  • explain, by means of examples seen in the lectures, the interest of heterostructures and of low-dimensionality devices;
  • explain certain quantum mechanisms for transporting charge carriers (such as the tunnel effect) and appreciate their potentials for designing electronic devices.
The completion of a project enables the student to consult the scientific and technical litterature in English, make a bibliographic search, and expose clearly and briefly complex physical concepts.


This course contributes to the learning outcomes I.1, I.2, II.1, II.2, II.3, III.1, III.2, IV.7, VI.1, VII.1, VII.3, VII.5 of the MSc in electrical engineering.


This course contributes to the learning outcomes I.1, I.2, II.1, II.2, II.3, III.1, III.2, III.2, VI.1, VII.1, VII.3, VII.5 of the MSc in engineering physics.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

An introductory course on the physics of semiconductor devices (to the level of the first eight chapters of Streetman)

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Depending on the number of registered students, individual or group project, to be presented orally.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face course

Recommended or required readings

  • Compulsory sources:
slides (available from the lecturer).
  • Optional sources :
Textbooks : Davies, The Physics of Low-dimensional Semiconductors (Cambridge U Press).
Matthieu, Physique des semiconducteurs et des composants électroniques (Dunod)

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

oral exam

Other : Oral presentation of an article assignement


Additional information:

 


  • Project (to be presented orally), 50%
  • Oral exam, 50%
 

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

For more information, consult http://www.montefiore.ulg.ac.be/~vdh/elen0069.html

Contacts

Benoît Vanderheyden, B.Vanderheyden @ ulg.ac.be

Association of one or more MOOCs