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Semiconductor Devices (ELEN90091)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Dual-Delivery (Parkville)
Please refer to the return to campus page for more information on these delivery modes and students who can enrol in each mode based on their location.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
James Bullock - james.bullock@unimelb.edu.au
Kenneth Crozier- Kenneth.crozier@unimelb.edu.au
Overview
Availability | Semester 2 - Dual-Delivery |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
This subject serves as an introduction to semiconductor devices. It describes the fundamentals, theory, material and physical properties of semiconductor devices. The following topics will be covered.
Fundamentals: Crystal properties and of the growth of bulk crystals and of epitaxial layers. Physical concepts related to atoms and electrons. These concepts may include the photoelectric effect, the Bohr model, quantum mechanics, and the periodic table.
Energy bands and charge carriers in semiconductors: Bonding forces and energy bands in solids, charge carriers in semiconductors, carrier concentrations, the drift of carriers in electric and magnetic fields, and the Fermi level.
Excess carriers in semiconductors: Optical absorption, luminescence, carrier lifetime and photoconductivity, and the diffusion of carriers.
Junctions: fabrication of pn junctions, equilibrium conditions, forward and reverse biased junctions in steady state, reverse bias breakdown, transient and AC conditions, metal-semiconductor junctions and heterojunctions. In the next part of the subject
PN junction diodes: junction diode, tunnel diodes, photodiodes, and light-emitting diodes and lasers.
Bipolar junction transistors (BJTs): amplification and switching, fundamentals of BJT operation, BJT fabrication, minority carrier distributions and terminal currents, generalised biasing, switching, the frequency limitations of transistors, and heterojunction bipolar transistors.
Field effect transistors (FETs): Topics may include junction FETs, the metal semiconductor FET and the metal-insulator-semiconductor FET.
Additional topics (if time permits): integrated circuits, lasers, pnpn switching devices, and microwave devices.
Intended learning outcomes
- Explain the properties of semiconductor materials from first principles, including concept that include energy bands, charge carriers, drift and the Fermi level
- Articulate the behaviour of excess carriers in semiconductors, including optical absorption, luminescence, carrier lifetime and diffusion
- Analyse the properties of semiconductor junctions, including homojunctions, heterojunction, metal-semiconductor junctions, photodetectors and light-emitting diodes
- Explain and understand the frequency, speed and sensitivity limitations of transistors and advanced devices
- Model and simulate semiconductor devices to optimise their properties
- Apply the developed understanding towards applications of semiconductor devices in sensing, imaging, and communications
Generic skills
- Capacity for independent thought.
- Awareness of advanced technologies in the discipline.
- Ability to apply knowledge of basic science and engineering fundamentals.
- Ability to undertake problem identification, formulation and solution
- The ability to comprehend complex concepts and communicate lucidly this understanding
- The ability to confront unfamiliar problems In-depth technical competence in at least one engineering discipline.
- Ability to plan work and to use time effectively
- Ability to apply engineering methods to solve complex problems.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
ELEN30011 | Electrical Device Modelling | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Please note that the above prerequisite does not apply to students admitted to the 200 point program of the Master of Engineering (Electrical) and Master of Engineering (Electrical with Business).
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Semester 2
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Final 3-hour examination. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) 1-6 are addressed in this assessment.
| End of semester | 70% |
Mid-semester test. ILOs 1-6 are addressed in this assessment.
| Mid semester | 10% |
Submitted laboratory reports from workshop activities. Two workshop tasks are completed as a group activity by self-selected groups of 2-3 students. Laboratory reports should not exceed 15 pages in total over the semester. ILOs 1-6 are addressed in this assessment.
| Throughout the semester | 10% |
Submitted assignments. Two written assignments are to be completed individually. Assignments should not exceed 15 pages in total over the semester. ILOs 1-6 are addressed in this assessment.
| Throughout the semester | 10% |
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Coordinators Kenneth Crozier and James Bullock Mode of delivery Dual-Delivery (Parkville) Contact hours 3 x one hour lectures per week. Two x three hour workshops in total over the semester. Total time commitment 200 hours Teaching period 26 July 2021 to 24 October 2021 Last self-enrol date 6 August 2021 Census date 31 August 2021 Last date to withdraw without fail 24 September 2021 Assessment period ends 19 November 2021 Semester 2 contact information
James Bullock - james.bullock@unimelb.edu.au
Kenneth Crozier- Kenneth.crozier@unimelb.edu.au
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
“Solid state electronic devices,” by Streetman and Banerjee, Pearson (7the edition)
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 3 November 2022