When we hear the words, semiconductor device, we may think first of the transistors in PCs or video game consoles, but transistors are the basic component in all of the electronic devices we use in our daily lives. Electronic systems are built from components such as transistors, capacitors, wires and other electronic devices such as light emitting diodes and semiconductor lasers. These components are typically integrated into a single chip made of a semiconductor material.

Advanced courses go more deeply into semiconductor theory, device physics, fabrication processes, and advanced and special purpose devices, such as heterostructure devices, power devices, and optoelectronic devices.

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This nanoHUB "topic page" provides an easy access to selected nanoHUB Semiconductor Device Education Material that is openly accessible and usable by everyone around the world.

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We invite you to participate in this open source, interactive educational initiative:

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* [http://www.nanohub.org/contribute/ Contribute your content] by uploading it to the nanoHUB. (See "Contribute Content") on the nanoHUB mainpage.

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* Provide feedback for the items you use on the nanoHUB through the review system. (Please be explicit and provide constructive feedback.)

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* Let us know when things do not work for you - file a ticket through the nanoHUB "Help" feature on every page

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* Finally, let us know what you are doing and [http://www.nanohub.org/feedback/suggestions/ your suggestions] improving the nanoHUB by using the "Feedback" section, which you can find under "[http://www.nanohub.org/support/ Support]"

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Thank you for using the nanoHUB, and be sure to [http://www.nanohub.org/feedback/success_story/ share your nanoHUB success stories] with us. We like to hear from you, and our sponsors need to know that the nanoHUB is having impact.

[[Image(/site/resources/tools/kronig_penney/allowed_bands_step_well.png, 120 class=align-right)]] The [/resources/5065 Periodic Potential Lab in ABACUS] solves the time independent Schroedinger Equation in a 1-D spatial potential variation. Rectangular, triangular, parabolic (harmonic), and Coulomb potential confinements can be considered. The user can determine energetic and spatial details of the potential profiles, compute the allowed and forbidden bands, plot the bands in a compact and an expanded zone, and compare the results against a simple effective mass parabolic band. Transmission is also calculated through the well for the given energy range.

[[Image(/site/resources/tools/strainbands/strainbands2.png, 120 class=align-right)]] [/resources/5065 StrainBands in ABACUS] uses first-principles density functional theory within the local density approximation and ultrasoft pseudopotentals to compute and visualize density of states, E(k), charge densities, and Wannier functions for bulk semiconductors. Using this tool, you can study and learn about the bandstructures of bulk semiconductors for various materials under hydrostatic pressure and under strain conditions. Physical parameters such as the bandgap and effective mass can also be obtained from the computed E(k). We note here that the bandgaps obtained with DFT-LDA are underestimated, by about a factor of two for some semiconductors (including Si and GaAs), as is well known.

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Exercises:

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* [[Resource(4880)]]

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== Bulk Semiconductors ==

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=== [/tools/abacus Carrier Statistics Lab] ===

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[[Image(/site/resources/2008/01/03885/cd_pg1.jpg, 120 class=align-right)]] The [/resources/5065 Carrier Statistics Lab in ABACUS] demonstrates electron and hole density distributions based on the Fermi-Dirac and Maxwell Boltzmann equations. This tool shows the dependence of carrier density, density of states and occupation factor on temperature and fermi level. User can choose between doped and undoped semi-conductors. Silicon, Germanium, and GaAs can be studied as a function of doping or Fermi level, and temperature. It is supported by a [/resources/3878/ homework assignment] in which Students are asked to explore the differences between Fermi-Dirac and Maxwell-Boltzmann distributions, compute electron and hole concentrations, study temperature dependences, and study freeze-out.

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Exercises:

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* [[Resource(5146)]]

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* [[Resource(4892)]]

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* [[Resource(5197)]]

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* [[Resource(5197)]]

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=== [/tools/abacus Drift Diffusion Lab] ===

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[[Image(/site/resources/tools/semi/excess_carrier_profile_light_top.png, 120 class=align-right)]] The [/resources/5065 Drift Diffusion Lab in ABACUS] enables a user to understand the basic concepts of DRIFT and DIFFUSION of carriers inside a semiconductor slab using different kinds of experiments. Experiments like shining light on the semiconductor, applying bias and both can be performed. This tool provides important information about carrier densities, transient and steady state currents, fermi-levels and electrostatic potentials. It is supported by two related homework assignments [/resources/4191/ #1] and [/resources/4188/ #2] in which Students are asked to explore the concepts of drift, diffusion, quasi Fermi levels, and the response to light.

[[Image(/site/resources/tools/adept/adept2.png, 120 class=align-right)]] [/tools/adept/ ADEPT] is not supported within ABACUS, since it is a research-oriented tool that enables the study of solar cells for various material systems. A [/site/resources/2007/05/02659/adoc.pdf Reference Manual] and a [/site/resources/2007/05/02660/adept_heterostruct_tutorial.pdf ADEPT Heterostructure Tutorial] are available. The interface is not a simple point-and-click interface as for example the PN junction lab, but simulation commands are entered in a command-like fashion.

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== Bipolar Junction Transistors (BJT) ==

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=== [/tools/abacus/ Bipolar Junction Lab] ===

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[[Image(/site/resources/tools/bjt/5_BJTenergy_nonequil.gif, 120 class=align-right)]] The [/tools/abacus/ Bipolar Junction Lab in ABACUS] allows Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT) simulation using a 2D mesh. It allows user to simulate npn or pnp type of device. Users can specify the Emitter, Base and Collector region depths and doping densities. Also the material and minority carrier lifetimes can be specified by the user. It is supported by a [/resources/4185/ homework assignment] in which Students are asked to find the emitter efficiency, the base transport factor, current gains, and the Early voltage. Also a qualitative discussion is requested.

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Exercises:

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* [[Resource(5199)]]

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* [[Resource(5193)]]

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* [[Resource(5083)]]

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== MOS Capacitors ==

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=== [/tools/abacus/ MOScap] ===

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[[Image(/site/resources/tools/moscap/moscap.jpg, 120 class=align-right)]] The [/tools/abacus/ MOScap Tool in ABACUS] tool enables a semi-classical analysis of MOS Capacitors. Simulates the capacitance of bulk and dual gate capacitors for a variety of different device sizes, geometries, temperature and doping profiles.

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* [[Resource(4855)]]

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* [[Resource(5185)]]

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* [[Resource(5087)]]

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=== [/tools/schred/ Schred] ===

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[[Image(/images/tool/schred/schred.jpg, 120 class=align-right)]] [/tools/schred/ Schred] is not formally supported in ABACUS. It contains more advanced quantum mechanical concepts and is a nanoHUB contributed tool. It calculates the envelope wavefunctions and the corresponding bound-state energies in a typical MOS (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) or SOS (Semiconductor-Oxide-Semiconductor) structure and a typical SOI structure by solving self-consistently the one-dimensional (1D) Poisson equation and the 1D Schrodinger equation.

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Exercises:

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* [[Resource(4900)]]

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* [[Resource(4902)]]

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* [[Resource(4794)]]

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== MOSFETs ==

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=== [/tools/abacus/ MOSfet Lab] ===

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[[Image(/site/resources/tools/mosfet/mosfet.jpg, 120 class=align-right)]] The [/tools/abacus/ MOSfet Lab in ABACUS] tool enables a semi-classical analysis of current-voltage characteristics for bulk and SOI Field Effect Transistors (FETs) for a variety of different device sizes, geometries, temperature and doping profiles.

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Exercises:

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* [[Resource(4906)]]

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* [[Resource(5191)]]

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* [[Resource(5085)]]

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== About ABACUS Constituent Tools ==

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The Assembly of Basic Applications for Coordinated Understanding of Semiconductors (ABACUS) has been put together from individual disjoint tools to enable educators and students to have a one-stop-shop in semiconductor education. It therefore benefits tremendously from the hard work that the contributors of the individual tool builders have put into their tools.

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As a matter of credit, simulation runs that are performed in the ABACUS tool are also credited to the individual tools, which help the ranking of the individual tools. We do also count the number of usages of the individual tools in the ABACUS tool set, to measure the ABACUS impact and possibly also improve the tool.

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In the description above we do not refer to the individual tools since we want to guide the users to the composite ABACUS tool. We cite the individual tools here explicitly so they are being given the appropriate credit and on their rspective tool pages are being linked to this ABACUS topic page.