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So I mentioned this before in another thread about diode lasers, and got some positive responses, and my cross-country move is over so my life is getting calm again finally, so I can now spend some time on hobbies and such again.
What I brought up was writing a tutorial/lesson/beginner's guide to how a diode/semiconductor laser works, for both people that are brand new to lasers and even experts on other lasers who are interested in learning more about these newest, smallest members of the laser world. I'm posting this thread now to get feedback on what I'm going to write about and where I'm going to start. So let me know what you think:
1. What is a semiconductor? This is actually a very simple, but simultaneously very confusing subject. I'll go into the details of why these materials are special and what we do with them, with both computer chips (silicon) and LEDs/lasers (III/V materials) and why these materials are so different. Also will cover material-specific properties, so that you'll know why certain lasers are made out of certain things, such as why lasers are NOT made out of silicon (even though it is by far the cheapest, easiest, most common semiconductor on the planet).
2. Maybe some simple quantum mechanics, along with other physics ideas you need. You really can't fully understand semiconductors without it, so some will be thrown in throughout.
3. Simple device physics. What is a pn junction? What is a diode? Are those two questions really the same question? All this and more.
4. More complicated device physics. Quantum wells, lasers structures, why they're better, how they work, etc.
5. Processing. So we know how it works and what it looks like, but how do we make the blasted thing? Well this is where you find out.
So this is going to take a while, it's just a ton of material to write down and find/make diagrams for. I'm probably going to put it all on a website, and then post links and update notices. Any thoughts? Comments? Questions? A burning question you've always had that you want to make sure is answered in the process? Let me know. This is supposed to be useful for you, so you need to let me know what you want to read. Thanks for your comments.
What I brought up was writing a tutorial/lesson/beginner's guide to how a diode/semiconductor laser works, for both people that are brand new to lasers and even experts on other lasers who are interested in learning more about these newest, smallest members of the laser world. I'm posting this thread now to get feedback on what I'm going to write about and where I'm going to start. So let me know what you think:
1. What is a semiconductor? This is actually a very simple, but simultaneously very confusing subject. I'll go into the details of why these materials are special and what we do with them, with both computer chips (silicon) and LEDs/lasers (III/V materials) and why these materials are so different. Also will cover material-specific properties, so that you'll know why certain lasers are made out of certain things, such as why lasers are NOT made out of silicon (even though it is by far the cheapest, easiest, most common semiconductor on the planet).
2. Maybe some simple quantum mechanics, along with other physics ideas you need. You really can't fully understand semiconductors without it, so some will be thrown in throughout.
3. Simple device physics. What is a pn junction? What is a diode? Are those two questions really the same question? All this and more.
4. More complicated device physics. Quantum wells, lasers structures, why they're better, how they work, etc.
5. Processing. So we know how it works and what it looks like, but how do we make the blasted thing? Well this is where you find out.
So this is going to take a while, it's just a ton of material to write down and find/make diagrams for. I'm probably going to put it all on a website, and then post links and update notices. Any thoughts? Comments? Questions? A burning question you've always had that you want to make sure is answered in the process? Let me know. This is supposed to be useful for you, so you need to let me know what you want to read. Thanks for your comments.
Explain doping and things like that aswell.
