PREFACE

Semiconductor devices are the basic components of integrated circuits and are responsible for the startling rapid growth of the electronics industry in the past fifty years worldwide. Because there is a continuing need for faster and more complex systems for the information age, existing semiconductor devices are being studied for improvement, and new ones are being invented. Whether it is for higher speed, lower power, higher density, higher efficiency, or new functionality, the number and types of semiconductor devices have been growing steadily in this fascinating field. While there is no shortage of journal papers and books to cover each device in detail, there lacks a single book that includes all semiconductor devices, from the older and sometimes obsolete types to the recent quantum devices; and from the common to the specialized thyristors and sensors. This handbook is designed as a complete collection of semiconductor devices, giving a quick review of each device.

This book is intended for a wide audience directly or peripherally related to the electronics industry. In academics, it is a good supplementary text for courses that are related to semiconductor device physics, VLSI technology, material science, or physical science. This book will give the students, undergraduate and graduate, a survey of semiconductor devices and a better perspective about the types of devices available. As a main text, it is suitable for a graduate-level seminar course where ample discussions can, hopefully, overcome the lack of problem sets in this book. For practicing engineers, the book can serve as a practical guide to learn about devices outside their field quickly.

A book of this nature will certainly generate controversy, whether it is due to some devices that are missed, or to some historical developments of devices that are overlooked.