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Electrical, Optical & Magnetic Materials and Devices

In 3.15x we will explore the electrical, optical, and magnetic properties of materials and learn how electronic devices are designed to exploit these properties.

Electrical, Optical & Magnetic Materials and Devices

In 3.15x we will explore the electrical, optical, and magnetic properties of materials and learn how electronic devices are designed to exploit these properties.

This course will explain the basis of the electrical, optical, and magnetic properties of materials including semiconductors, metals, organics and insulators, and will show how devices are built to take advantage of those properties. It is illustrated with a wide range of devices, placing a strong emphasis on new and emerging technologies. Applications presented include diodes, transistors, photodetectors, solar cells (photovoltaics), displays, light emitting diodes, lasers, optical fibers and optical communications, photonic devices, magnetic data storage, motors, transformers and spintronics.

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Image attribution: Disk drive: KEURT Datenrettung, Lasers: US Navy Surface Warfare Center, Computer Chip: Jon Sullivan

What you'll learn

Part 1:

  • The origins of semiconductor properties
  • Carrier action in semiconductors: drift, diffusion, recombination and generation
  • The behavior of p-n junctions at equilibrium and under bias
  • The derivation and application of the ideal diode equation, and how real diodes differ from ideal diodes
  • Operating principles of bipolar junction transistors and MOSFETs

Part 2:

  • The fundamental operating principles of photodevices
  • LED and heterojunction laser materials selection and design
  • Fundamentals of organic electronics and liquid crystal displays
  • An overview of photonic systems
  • Optical fibers: dispersion, losses, and design choices

Part 3:

  • Fundamentals of magnetism
  • The role anisotropy plays in the magnetic behavior of materials
  • The operating principles of transformers and DC motors
  • How data is stored on hard disks
  • Principles of optical and magnetooptical storage

Prerequisites

  • Physics, calculus, and chemistry at the first year university level
  • Familiarity with materials structure and bonding
  • A background in solid state physics is helpful, but is not absolutely essential

Meet your instructors

  • Featured image for Caroline Ross
    Toyota Professor of Materials Science and Engineering
  • Featured image for Jessica Sandland
    Principal Lecturer and Digital Learning Scientist

Who can take this course?

Because of U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) restrictions and other U.S. federal regulations, learners residing in one or more of the following countries or regions will not be able to register for this course: Iran, Cuba, Syria, North Korea and the Crimea, Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic regions of Ukraine.