Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Optical Properties of Electronic Materials: Fundamentals and Characterization

  • Reference work entry
Springer Handbook of Electronic and Photonic Materials

Part of the book series: Springer Handbooks ((SHB))

Abstract

Light interacts with materials in a variety of ways; this chapter focuses on refraction and absorption. Refraction is characterized by a materialʼs refractive index. We discuss some of the most useful models for the frequency dependence of the refractive index, such as those due to Cauchy, Sellmeier, Gladstone–Dale, and Wemple–Di Dominico. Examples are given of the applicability of the models to actual materials. We present various mechanisms of light absorption, including absorption by free carriers, phonons, excitons and impurities. Special attention is paid to fundamental and excitonic absorption in disordered semiconductors and to absorption by rare-earth, trivalent ions due to their importance to modern photonics. We also discuss the effect of an external electric field on absorption, and the Faraday effect. Practical techniques for determining the optical parameters of thin films are outlined. Finally, we present a short technical classification of optical glasses and materials.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 399.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Abbreviations

CB:

conduction band

DOS:

density of states

ED:

electrodeposition

EM:

electromagnetic

FCA:

free-carrier absorption

JO:

Judd–Ofelt

LF:

low-frequency

LO:

longitudinal optical

MQW:

multiple quantum well

PC:

photoconductive

PMMA:

poly(methyl-methacrylate)

QW:

quantum well

RE:

rare earth

TCRI:

temperature coefficient of refractive index

TO:

transverse optical

UV:

ultraviolet

VB:

valence band

References

  1. S. Adachi: Properties of Group IV, III–V and II–VI Semiconductors (Wiley, Chichester, UK 2005)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  2. M. Fox: Optical Properties of Solids (Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford 2001)

    Google Scholar 

  3. J. H. Simmons, K. S. Potter: Optical Materials (Academic, San Diego 2000)

    Google Scholar 

  4. D. E. Aspnes, A. A. Studna: Phys. Rev B27, 985 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  5. A. L. Cauchy: Bull. Sci. Math. 14, 6 (1830)

    Google Scholar 

  6. A. L. Cauchy: Mʼemoire sur la Dispersion de la Lumiere (Calve, Prague 1836)

    Google Scholar 

  7. D. Y. Smith, M. Inokuti, W. Karstens: J. Phys.: Condens. Mat. 13, 3883 (2001)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. D. F. Edwards, E. Ochoa: Appl. Opt. 19, 4130 (1980)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. W. L. Wolfe: The Handbook of Optics, ed. by W. G. Driscoll, W. Vaughan (McGraw-Hill, New York 1978)

    Google Scholar 

  10. J. W. Fleming: Appl. Opt. 23, 4486 (1984)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. K. L. Wolf, K. F. Herzfeld, H. Geiger, K. Scheel (eds.): Handbuch der Physik, Vol. 20 (Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg 1928)

    Google Scholar 

  12. M. Herzberger: Opt. Acta 6, 197 (1959)

    Google Scholar 

  13. P. J. Herve, L. K. J. Vandamme: J. Appl. Phys. 77, 5476 (1995)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. D. Dale, F. Gladstone: Philos. Trans. 153, 317 (1863)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. S. H. Wemple, M. DiDominico Jr.: Phys. Rev. 3, 1338 (1971)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. W. J. Turner, W. E. Reese: Phys. Rev. 127, 126 (1962)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. W. G. Spitzer, H. Y. Fan: Phys. Rev. 106, 882 (1957)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. J. D. Wiley, M. DiDomenico: Phys. Rev. B1, 1655 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  19. H. R. Riedl: Phys. Rev. 127, 162 (1962)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. R. L. Weihler: Phys. Rev. 152, 735 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  21. E. Hagen, H. Rubens: Ann. Phys. 14, 986 (1904)

    Google Scholar 

  22. R. J. Elliott, A. F. Gibson: An Introduction to Solid State Physics and Its Applications (Macmillan, London 1974)

    Google Scholar 

  23. H. B. Briggs, R. C. Fletcher: Phys. Rev. 91, 1342 (1953)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. C. R. Pidgeon: Optical Properties of Solids. In: Handbook on Semiconductors, Vol. 2, ed. by M. Balkanski (North Holland, Amsterdam 1980) Chap. 5, pp. 223–328

    Google Scholar 

  25. H. E. Ruda: J. Appl. Phys. 72, 1648 (1992)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. H. E. Ruda: J. Appl. Phys. 61, 3035 (1987)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. W. Kaiser, R. J. Collins, H. Y. Fan: Phys. Rev. 91, 1380 (1953)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. I. Kudman, T. Seidel: J. Appl. Phys. 33, 771 (1962)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. A. E. Rakhshani: J. Appl. Phys. 81, 7988 (1997)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. R. H. Bube: Electronic Properties of Crystalline Solids (Academic, San Diego 1974)

    Google Scholar 

  31. F. Urbach: Phys. Rev. 92, 1324 (1953)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. J. Pankove: Phys. Rev. 140, 2059 (1965)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. R. A. Street: Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon (Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge 1991)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  34. D. A. Papaconstantopoulos, E. N. Economou: Phys. Rev. 24, 7233 (1981)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. M. H. Cohen, Fritzsche, S.R. Ovshinsky: Phys. Rev. Lett. 22, 1065 (1969)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. N. F. Mott, E. A. Davis: Electronic Processes in Non-Crystalline Materials (Clarendon, Oxford 1979)

    Google Scholar 

  37. J. Singh, K. Shimakawa: Advances in Amorphous Semiconductors (Taylor & Francis, London 2003)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  38. S. Sherman, S. Wagner, R. A. Gottscho: Appl. Phys. Lett. 69, 3242 (1996)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. T. Tiedje, J. M. Cebulla, D. L. Morel, B. Abeles: Phys. Rev. Lett. 46, 1425 (1981)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. K. Winer, L. Ley: Phys. Rev. 36, 6072 (1987)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. D. P. Webb, X. C. Zou, Y. C. Chan, Y. W. Lam, S. H. Lin, X. Y. Lin, K. X. Lin, S. K. OʼLeary, P. K. Lim: Sol. State Commun. 105, 239 (1998)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. W. B. Jackson, S. M. Kelso, C. C. Tsai, J. W. Allen, S.-H. Oh: Phys. Rev. 31, 5187 (1985)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. S. K. OʼLeary, S. R. Johnson, P. K. Lim: J. Appl. Phys. 82, 3334 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. S. M. Malik, S. K. OʼLeary: J. Non-Cryst. Sol. 336, 64 (2004)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. S. R. Elliott: The Physics and Chemistry of Solids (Wiley, Sussex 1998)

    Google Scholar 

  46. J. Singh: Nonlin. Opt. 29, 119 (2002)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. J. Tauc: Phys. Stat. Solidi 15, 627 (1966)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. F. Orapunt, S. K. OʼLeary: Appl. Phys. Lett. 84, 523 (2004)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. A. P. Sokolov, A. P. Shebanin, O. A. Golikova, M. M. Mezdrogina: J. Phys. Conden. Mat. 3, 9887 (1991)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. G. D. Cody: Semicond. Semimet. 21, 11 (1984)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. K. Morigaki: Physics of Amorphous Semiconductors (World Scientific, London 1999)

    Google Scholar 

  52. L. Ley: The Physics of Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon II, ed. by J. D. Joannopoulos, G. Lukovsky (Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg 1984) p. 61

    Google Scholar 

  53. T. Aoki, H. Shimada, N. Hirao, N. Yoshida, K. Shimakawa, S. R. Elliott: Phys. Rev. 59, 1579 (1999)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. K. Shimakawa, Y. Ikeda, S. Kugler: Non-Crystalline Materials for Optoelectronics, Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, Vol. 1 (INOE Publ., Bucharest 2004) Chap. 5, pp. 103–130

    Google Scholar 

  55. J. Singh: J. Mater. Sci. Mater. El. 14, 171 (2003)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. S. M. Malik, S. K. OʼLeary: J. Mater. Sci. Mater. El. 16, 177 (2005)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. S. Abe, Y. Toyozawa: J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 50, 2185 (1981)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. A. O. Kodolbas: Mater. Sci. Eng. 98, 161 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  59. J. Singh: Excitation Energy Transfer Processes in Condensed Matter (Plenum, New York 1994)

    Google Scholar 

  60. J. Singh: Nonlin. Opt. 18, 171 (1997)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. J. Singh, T. Aoki, K. Shimakawa: Philos. Mag. 82, 855 (2002)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. R. J. Elliott: Polarons and Excitons, ed. by K. G. Kuper, G. D. Whitfield (Oliver Boyd, London 1962) p. 269

    Google Scholar 

  63. T. Aoki, S. Komedoori, S. Kobayashi, T. Shimizu, A. Ganjoo, K. Shimakawa: Nonlin. Opt. 29, 273 (2002)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. P. C. Becker, N. A. Olsson, J. R. Simpson: Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifiers. Fundamentals and Technology (Academic, New York 1999)

    Google Scholar 

  65. B. Henderson, G. F. Imbusch: Optical Spectroscopy of Inorganic Solids (Clarendon, Oxford 1989)

    Google Scholar 

  66. S. Hüfner: Optical Spectra of Rare Earth Compounds (Academic, New York 1978)

    Google Scholar 

  67. G. Blasse, B. C. Grabmaier: Luminescent Materials (Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg 1994)

    Google Scholar 

  68. B. DiBartolo: Optical Interactions in Solids (Wiley, New York 1968)

    Google Scholar 

  69. W. T. Carnall, G. L. Goodman, K. Rajnak, R. S. Rana: J. Chem. Phys. 90, 3443 (1989)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  70. M. J. Weber: Phys. Rev. 157, 262 (1967)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  71. E. Desurvire: Erbium-Doped Fibre Amplifiers (Wiley, New York 1994)

    Google Scholar 

  72. K. A. Gschneidner, Jr., LeRoy, Eyring (Eds.): Handbook on the Physics and Chemistry of Rare Earths, Vol. 25 (Elsevier, Amsterdam 1998)

    Google Scholar 

  73. R. Swanepoel: J. Phys. E 17, 896 (1984)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, 57 Campus Drive, S7N 5A9, Saskatoon, SK, Canada

    Safa Kasap Prof.

  2. Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, 57 Campus Drive, S7N 5A9, Saskatoon, SK, Canada

    Cyril Koughia Ph.D.

  3. School of Engineering and Logistics, Faculty of Technology, B-41, Charles Darwin University, Ellengowan Drive, 0909, Darwin, NT, Australia

    Jai Singh Prof.

  4. Materials Science and Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, 170 College Street, M5S 3E4, Toronto, Canada

    Harry Ruda Prof.

  5. Faculty of Engineering, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, S4S 0A2, Regina, SK, Canada

    Stephen OʼLeary Prof.

Authors
  1. Safa Kasap Prof.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Cyril Koughia Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jai Singh Prof.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Harry Ruda Prof.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Stephen OʼLeary Prof.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Safa Kasap Prof. , Cyril Koughia Ph.D. , Jai Singh Prof. , Harry Ruda Prof. or Stephen OʼLeary Prof. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, 57 Campus Drive, S7N 5A9, Saskatoon, SK, Canada

    Safa Kasap Prof.

  2. Materials Team Leader, SELEX Sensors and Airborne Systems Infrared Ltd., Millbrook Industrial Estate, PO Box 217, SO15 0EG, Southampton, Hampshire, UK

    Peter Capper Dr.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2006 Springer-Verlag

About this entry

Cite this entry

Kasap, S., Koughia, C., Singh, J., Ruda, H., OʼLeary, S. (2006). Optical Properties of Electronic Materials: Fundamentals and Characterization. In: Kasap, S., Capper, P. (eds) Springer Handbook of Electronic and Photonic Materials. Springer Handbooks. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-29185-7_3

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation