Semiconductor Properties: Band Structure and Carrier Statistics

This lecture covers the fundamental properties of semiconductors, focusing on band structure, carrier transport, and Fermi-Dirac statistics. It explains the bonding of atoms, electronic properties of solids, and the Schrödinger equation for electrons in periodic potentials. The lecture also delves into the effects of periodicity on Bloch waves, bandgaps in common semiconductors, and the intrinsic and extrinsic carrier densities. Additionally, it discusses impurities and doping in semiconductors, detailing the role of donors and acceptors in creating shallow states for carriers. The concepts are illustrated with examples from materials like silicon, germanium, and gallium arsenide.