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Introduction

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Amorphous Chalcogenide Semiconductors and Related Materials

Abstract

We begin with the terminology and definition of several words, which may be somewhat confusing. Comparison of crystal and amorphous materials is made from physical standpoints. Among many non-crystalline solids, we shed light on oxide and chalcogenide glasses with brief histories. The readers will see how glass has made an impact on the present society. We also see the importance of unified understanding of glasses containing VIb elements in the periodic table. There are many kinds of chalcogenide glasses, which will be discussed in terms of atomic elements.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    It is mentioned that glassy substances on the earth are limited to obsidian, etc., while those seem rather common on the moon (Saal et al. 2008).

  2. 2.

    A known exception is the diamond, which is a non-equilibrium phase of carbon on the earth’s surface. The equilibrium phase is semi-metallic graphite.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Physics, Graduate School of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-8628, Japan

    Keiji Tanaka

  2. Faculty of Engineering, Gifu University, Yanaido, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan

    Koichi Shimakawa

  3. Nagoya Industrial Science Institute, Nagoya, 460-0008, Japan

    Koichi Shimakawa

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  1. Keiji Tanaka
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Tanaka, K., Shimakawa, K. (2011). Introduction. In: Amorphous Chalcogenide Semiconductors and Related Materials. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-9510-0_1

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