525.621.8VL - Introduction to Electronics and the Solid State

Course Structure

Course will encompass 14 Synchronous on line lectures and discussions. These lectures and discussions will be recorded. The Zoom link to the recordings and a copy of any slide material will nominally be sent out the next day.

Course Topics

• CRYSTAL STRUCTURE - X-ray Scattering, Braggs Laws, Laue Equations, Packing Fraction, Structure Factor
• CRYSTAL STRUCTURE - Basis Vectors, Reciprocal Lattice, Miller Indices
• LATTICE VIBRATIONS / ENERGY BANDS - Bloch Functions, Schrodinger Equation, Effective Mass, Phonon Physics
• CARRIER CONCENTRATION/TRANSPORT - Intrinsic Semiconductors, F-D Statistics, Boltzmann Equation, Extrinsic Semiconductors, Mobility, Resistivity
• BASIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE OPERATION - Maxwell's Equations, Continuity, Carrier Diffusion, Diffusion Theory, Oxidation, Deposition, Photolithography, p-n Junction Models, p-n Junction Diodes

• FIELD EFFECTS - Avalanche, Tunneling, Thermal Instability, Ohmic Contacts, MOS Capacitor 

• TRANSISTORS - Bipolar Transistor and Field Effect Transistor, Transistor Noise, Scaling
  
• OTHER DEVICES and PACKAGING – Solar Cells, SAWs CCDs, Basic Tenants of Packaging

Course Goals

To identify the relationship between semiconductor material properties and the function of electronic devices and their performance. Apply knowledge to the analysis of basic electronic devices.

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

• Identify the similarities and differences between basic semiconducting active devices.
• Demonstrate the ability to link semiconductor material properties with the performance of electronic devices.
• Understand the influence of noise, scaling, and packaging on the performance of electronic devices.

Textbooks

No Textbook Required

Optional Reading: Donald A. Neaman, Semiconductor Physics and Devices: Basic Principles, 4th edition, McGraw-Hill, New York, 2011. (or earlier edition) G. Streetman and S. Banerjee, Solid State Electronic Devices, Prentice Hall, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ (2000).
N. W. Ashcroft and N. D. Mermin, Solid State Physics, Saunders College, Holt Rinehart and Winston, Philadelphia, PA (1976).  S. M. Sze, High Speed Semiconductor Devices, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, NY (1990).  

Required Software

No Software

Student Coursework Requirements

Nominal Grading Criterion (Instructor reserves right to adjust percentages as circumstances and classroom situations warrant)

                35% Term Paper

                35% Take Home Final Exam

                20% Homework Note: All Homework Due Within Two Weeks of the Assignment Date 

                10% Class Participation

Grading Policy

The courses uses a plus/minus grading system. The scale will follow the general EP grading guidelines in the catalogue - but the instructor reserves the right to adjust the ranges slightly to fit the classroom situation.

Course Policies

All Homework Due Within Two Weeks of the Assignment Date, unless otherwise specified by the instructor.

Academic Policies

Deadlines for Adding, Dropping and Withdrawing from Courses

Students may add a course up to one week after the start of the term for that particular course. Students may drop courses according to the drop deadlines outlined in the EP academic calendar (https://ep.jhu.edu/student-services/academic-calendar/). Between the 6th week of the class and prior to the final withdrawal deadline, a student may withdraw from a course with a W on their academic record. A record of the course will remain on the academic record with a W appearing in the grade column to indicate that the student registered and withdrew from the course.

Academic Misconduct Policy

All students are required to read, know, and comply with the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) / Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) Procedures for Handling Allegations of Misconduct by Full-Time and Part-Time Graduate Students.

This policy prohibits academic misconduct, including but not limited to the following: cheating or facilitating cheating; plagiarism; reuse of assignments; unauthorized collaboration; alteration of graded assignments; and unfair competition. Course materials (old assignments, texts, or examinations, etc.) should not be shared unless authorized by the course instructor. Any questions related to this policy should be directed to EP’s academic integrity officer at ep-academic-integrity@jhu.edu.

Students with Disabilities - Accommodations and Accessibility

Johns Hopkins University values diversity and inclusion. We are committed to providing welcoming, equitable, and accessible educational experiences for all students. Students with disabilities (including those with psychological conditions, medical conditions and temporary disabilities) can request accommodations for this course by providing an Accommodation Letter issued by Student Disability Services (SDS). Please request accommodations for this course as early as possible to provide time for effective communication and arrangements.

For further information or to start the process of requesting accommodations, please contact Student Disability Services at Engineering for Professionals, ep-disability-svcs@jhu.edu.

Student Conduct Code

The fundamental purpose of the JHU regulation of student conduct is to promote and to protect the health, safety, welfare, property, and rights of all members of the University community as well as to promote the orderly operation of the University and to safeguard its property and facilities. As members of the University community, students accept certain responsibilities which support the educational mission and create an environment in which all students are afforded the same opportunity to succeed academically. 

For a full description of the code please visit the following website: https://studentaffairs.jhu.edu/policies-guidelines/student-code/

Classroom Climate

JHU is committed to creating a classroom environment that values the diversity of experiences and perspectives that all students bring. Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Fostering an inclusive climate is important. Research and experience show that students who interact with peers who are different from themselves learn new things and experience tangible educational outcomes. At no time in this learning process should someone be singled out or treated unequally on the basis of any seen or unseen part of their identity. 
 
If you have concerns in this course about harassment, discrimination, or any unequal treatment, or if you seek accommodations or resources, please reach out to the course instructor directly. Reporting will never impact your course grade. You may also share concerns with your program chair, the Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, or the Office of Institutional Equity. In handling reports, people will protect your privacy as much as possible, but faculty and staff are required to officially report information for some cases (e.g. sexual harassment).

Course Auditing

When a student enrolls in an EP course with “audit” status, the student must reach an understanding with the instructor as to what is required to earn the “audit.” If the student does not meet those expectations, the instructor must notify the EP Registration Team [EP-Registration@exchange.johnshopkins.edu] in order for the student to be retroactively dropped or withdrawn from the course (depending on when the "audit" was requested and in accordance with EP registration deadlines). All lecture content will remain accessible to auditing students, but access to all other course material is left to the discretion of the instructor.