Robin Wydaeghe

drs. ir. Engineering Physics

Engineering physics coursework · 2016–2021

Semiconductor & solid-state physics coursework

Engineering Physics provides a unique education into the missing link between the smallest quantum-mechanical effects in a transistor right up to chip-design (not including).

My coursework in semiconductor & solid-state physics.

Courses on this page
  1. Solid-state physics and semiconductors I & II, Physics of semiconductor devices
  2. Physics of Advanced Electronic and Photonic Devices
  3. Materials and fields
  4. Photonics, Electromagnetism, Quantum optics
  5. Electrical circuits, Analog & digital electronics, Signal processing
  6. Statistical mechanics, Quantum mechanics, Atomic & molecular physics

Solid-state physics and semiconductors I & II,
Physics of semiconductor devices

Three extensive courses diving into the building blocks of semiconductor devices and solid-state physics

  • Advanced understanding of building blocks and devices
    • Equilibrium, DC, small/large signal, circuit ... analysis of a diode, MIS, MOSFET, BJT ...
    • Memory devices and solar cells
    • Band diagrams, IV/CV/switching behaviour
  • A thorough understanding of solid-state physics and its link with semiconductors
    • Electrical, optical and thermal effects
    • Defects and crystallography (XRD, FTIR, EPR... spectroscopy experience)
  • Industrial
    • Application focused, crystal growth, characterization testing experience in the lab
  • Cutting-edge
    • Nanostructures, superconductors, literature reviews ...

Physics of Advanced Electronic and Photonic Devices

Study of novel effects to surpass properties of traditional silicon devices and their application in devices

  • Nano-electronics:
    • HEMT, spintronics (memory devices), graphene (transistors), superconductivity, ...
  • Nano-photonics:
    • Waveguide theory, periodic structures, resonators, plasmonics, ...
  • Electro-optic interaction:
    • Anisotropy, nonlinear-, electro- and acousto-optic effects, liquid crystals, ...
  • Light detection and harvesting:
    • For application of solar cells, CMOS sensors, photodiodes, single-photon detectors

Practical experience with simulation of various mentioned effects and devices in Lumerical & Nextnano

Materials and fields

EM material properties (polarization, magnetization, ...)

Solve EM field problems

Using first principles of statistical and quantum mechanics, understand macroscopic material effects such as dia-, para-, ferro- magnetism and electricity.

Formulate and solve (quasi-)static field problems, calculate forces & energies in them.

Photonics, Electromagnetism, Quantum optics

Light-matter interaction for application in high-tech industry

  • Semiconductor light sources, detectors and lasers
  • Electromagnetic and optical waveguides
  • Light-matter interaction
    • Absorption, reflection, layered structures, ...
    • Resonant interaction, qubits, single-photon detectors
  • Relativistic effects

Electrical circuits,
Analog & digital electronics,
Signal processing

Basic knowledge of electronics, useful for analysis of semiconductor devices.

Lab & PSpice experience

I have a reasonable basis in circuits, signal processing and analog & digital electronic instrumentation and building blocks such as differential amplifier, filters, oscillators, logical circuits, ... Lab experience building, analyzing and testing these on a breadboard. Experience with PSpice. Limited knowledge of chip-design.

Statistical mechanics,
Quantum mechanics, Atomic & molecular physics

Fundamental courses underpinning solid-state physics

Spectroscopy

These four courses are crucial for a good understanding of solid-state physics, especially in research.

Experience with highly accurate material characterization by spectroscopy.