Nitride semiconductor based electronic and photonic devices fundamentally differ from those based on Silicon and GaAs, the traditional semiconductors for which the fundamental textbooks of semiconductor physics and devices are written. The wurtzite crystal structure and large electronegativity of nitrogen imparts this semiconductor family large electronic spontaneous and piezoelectric polarization fields. Because of these polarization fields, several design rules for heterostructure design for transistors, LEDs, and lasers must be modified for nitride semiconductors. In this talk, I shall discuss the changes in our understanding of the fundamentals of semiconductor heterostructure physics and device design brought about by polarization charges and fields. Then I will demonstrate how polarization in semiconductor devices is used to dramatic effect to solve seemingly unsurmountable problems: with specific examples of electrically injected deep-UV lasers, GaN CMOS for RF and power electronics, non-volatile FerroHEMTs, and super-semi heterostructures for qubits.
Biography
Debdeep Jena is the David E. Burr Professor of Engineering at Cornell University. His teaching and research are in the quantum physics of semiconductors and electronic and photonic devices based on quantized semiconductor structures (e.g. Nitrides, Oxides, 2D Materials), and their heterostructures with superconductors, ferroelectrics and magnets. His group's research, published in more than 400 journal papers, has resulted in new technologies, devices, patents, and a spinoff company. He is a fellow of the APS and the IEEE. His research is recognized by awards such as the ISCS young scientist award in 2012 and the MBE young scientist award in 2014, and awards from the industry such as the IBM faculty award in 2012, and the Intel Outstanding Research award in 2020. He has served in leadership roles in SRC/DARPA centers, DOE EFRC, NSF DMREF, and NSF EFRI. His teaching is recognized by awards, and his textbook Quantum Physics of Semiconductor Materials and Devices has been adopted by several universities for undergraduate and graduate courses.
