Credit Weighting: 10 (PG)

Teaching Period(s): Period 1

No. of Student(s): Max. 20

Pre-requisite(s): None

Co-requisite(s): None

Teaching Methods: 36 x 1hr(s) Lectures, 6 x 3hr(s) Practicals

Module Co-ordinator: Dr. F. H. Peters, Department of Physics

Lecturer(s): Staff, Department of Physics

Module Objective: To develop knowledge of photonic materials, device fabrication and characterization, evaluation and optimization of reliability

Module Content: Physical and chemical properties of III-V compound semiconductors GaAs and InP; growth of GaAlAs, InGaAsP by MOVPE, MBE; characterization of materials and junctions: photoluminescence, Hall effect, microscopy, SIMS. Junction device physics review and simple process sequences for laser diodes. Processing: wafer clean and etch, wet and dry etching, photolithography with etch and liftoff, e-beam lighography outline, device isolation Thin film deposition: physical and chemical methods, characterization, metallization and Ohmic contacts. Degradation of III-V semiconductor devices: dark defects, facet or junction degradation, catastrophic damage. Introduction to reliability physics and statistics, design of lifetests, accelerated aging and stress testing. Introduction to silicon based optical MEMs devices and processing.

Assessment: Total marks 200: end of year written examination 100 marks; continuous assessment (in-term assigned work, midterm exam and laboratories) 100 marks.

Compulsory Elements: End of year written examination; laboratories; continuous assessment.

Penalties (for late submission of Course/Project Work etc.): Late submissions not accepted.

Pass Standard and any Special Requirements for Passing Module: 40%. Students must obtain at least 40% in each of the end of year written examination and continuous assessment components of the examination. For students who do not satisfy this requirement, the lower of the two marks, calculated as a percentage of the total mark for this module, will be returned.

End of Year Written Examination Profile: 1 x 3hr paper.

Requirements for Autumn Supplemental Examination: 1 x 3 hr(s) paper(s) to be taken in Autumn. A pass mark for Continuous Assessment is carried forward (Marks in in-term Lab Work; Homework Assignments, labs etc). No supplemental examination offered unless a pass mask is achieved in the Continuous Assessment portion.