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Abstract

In this chapter we present a brief introduction and description of electrons in semiconductor materials of which devices are made. The chapter starts with the basic electronic energy band structure of a single atom, the modifications of the energy band structure when more atoms are brought together to form bulk materials, i.e., solid states, which is the basis for understanding the electronic and optical properties of semiconductor materials. We then focus on the theoretical descriptions of electron states at the conduction and valence bandedges of both bulk and heterostructure materials. Key contents: Bloch theorem and Schrödinger equation for the envelope function of electrons in solids.

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Fu, Y. (2014). Semiconductor Materials. In: Physical Models of Semiconductor Quantum Devices. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7174-1_1

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