Last update: G_F (28.05.2003)
Linear optical properties of semiconductors and semiconductor structures with spatial quantization. Nonlinear optical properties: two-photon absorption, thermal nonlinearity, electron-hole plasma, excitons and biexcitons, stimulated emision, optical Stark effect.
Last update: G_F (28.05.2003)
1. Introduction (linear/nonlinear optics). Linear optical response of the medium. Oscillator models (Lorentz, Drude), their applicability.
2. Linear optical properties of bulk (3D) semiconductors - free electrons and holes. Semiclassical approximation. Absorption spectrum of semiconductors with direct and indirect gaps.
3. Excitons in bulk semiconductors. Symmetry and selection rules. Nonlinear behaviour of the exciton gas (high density regime), excitonic complexes. Screennig, electro-hole plasmas, gap renormalization. Example: Nonlinearities in ZnCdTe crystals.
4.Two-photon absorption, selection rules, spectroscopic applications to bulk semiconductors. Example: Band structure study of Hg2Cl2 crystals. Thermal nonlinearities.
5. Semiconductor structures with quantum-confinement effects. Basic linear properties of 2D structures (quantum wells), exciton enhancement. Two-photon spectroscopy of 2D structures.
6. Stimulated emission in semiconductors. Possible mechanisms, experimental methods. Example: Stimulated emission in ZnCdSe/ZnSe quantum wells.
7. Semiconductor quantum dots. Quantum confinement regimes. Linear and nonlinear optical properties.
8. Nonlinear optics in semiconductor composite materials.
9. Measurement techniques of optical nonlinearities in semiconductors. Picosecond pump & probe techniques. Z-scan. Optical phase conjugation. Wave- mixing techniques.
10. Femtosecond spectroscopy. Ultrafast processes. Hot carriers.
11. Coherent transient effects in semiconductors. Bloch oscillations. Quantum beats. Four-wave mixing, photon echo.
12. All-optical switching. Optical bistability.
