Theoretical and Applied Physics

Semiconductor Devices

Semiconductor device, an electronic circuit element made from a material that is neither a healthy conductor nor a solid insulator; hence called a semiconductor. Such devices have found widespread applications because of their ruggedness, robustness, and affordability. As individual components, they have found use in power devices, optical sensors, and light emitters, including solid-state lasers. They have an extensive range of current and voltage handling functionality, with current ratings from a few nanoamperes (10−9 ampere) to more than 5,000 amperes and voltage ratings extending above 100,000 volts. More importantly, semiconductor devices lend themselves to integration into complicated but readily makable microelectronic circuits.