Polarization Effects in Semiconductors: From AB Initio Theory to Device Applications

This book presents the latest understanding of the solid physics, electronic implications and practical applications of the unique spontaneous or pyro-electric polarization charge of hexagonal semiconductors, and the piezo-electric effects in thin film hetero-structures, which are used in wide forbidden band gap sensor, electronic and opto-electronic semiconductor devices. The book covers ab initio theory of polarization in cubic and hexagonal semiconductors, growth of thin film GaN, and GaN/AlGaN GaAlN/ AlGaInN and other nitride, and SiC hetero-structures; graded structures for distributed piezo-electric charge, electrical and electronic characterization of polarization charge and charge distribution by scanning-probe spectroscopy, gauge factors and strain effects.