Polarization Effects in Semiconductors

This book presents the latest understanding of the solid physics, electronic implications and practical applications of the unique spontaneous or pyro-electric polarization charge of hexagonal semiconductors, and the piezo-electric effects in thin film hetero-structures which are used in wide forbidden band gap sensor, electronic and opto-electronc semiconductor devices.

The book chapters will be authored primarily by the physics, applied physics and electrical engineering professors and students who worked for 5 years under the "Polarization Effects in Semiconductors" DOD funded Multi Disciplinary University Research Initiative.

The book covers ab initio theory of polarization in cubic and hexagonal semiconductors, growth of thin film GaN, and GaN/AlGaN GaAlN/ AlGaInN and other nitride, and SiC hetero-structures; graded structures for distributed piezo-electric charge, electrical and electronic characterization of polarization charge and charge distribution by scanning-probe spectroscopies, gauge factors and strain effects.

Polarization in extended defects and device effects; Piezo-electric strain / charge engineering and application to device design and processing: ohmic, and Shottky diodes, drift, diffusion, low and high field carrier dynamics in plane and normal to thin film and polarization engineered semiconductor hetero-structures are also covered.