The current rapid development of photonics matches the progress of silicon-integrated circuits. However, the ultimate success of photonics requires integration of both active and passive functions into one compact form. For such integration, it is crucial to develop and integrate a large diversity of new materials and material structures that enable generation, manipulation and detection of optical signals at short-length scales. In many cases, the final performance will be fabrication-process-dependent, and controlling microstructure and materials interactions in the device synthesis will be critical. Realization of these devices requires the development of new methods for microprobing, testing and characterization. This book researches work in optoelectronics, integrated optics, microphotonics and related research areas. Areas cover semiconductors, insulators, ferroelectrics and polymers. The goal here is to share progress, identify critical problems and provide promising solutions Topics include: rare-earth-doped structures; photonic bandgap crystals; nanocrystals; new concepts and devices; electro-optic materials and luminescent materials.

A fascinating insight into the state-of-the-art in silicon microphotonics and on what we can expect in the near future. The book presents an overview of the current understanding of getting light from silicon. It concentrates mainly on low dimensional silicon structures, like quantum dots, wires and wells, but covers also alternative approaches like porous silicon and the doping of silicon with rare-earths. The emphasis is on the experimental and theoretical achievements concerning the optoelectronic properties of confined silicon structures obtained during recent years. Silicon based photonic crystals are in particular considered. An in depth discussion of the route towards a silicon laser is presented.

Progress in nanoscale engineering, as well as an improved understanding of the physical phenomena at the nanometer scale, have contributed to the rapid development of novel nanostructured semiconducting materials and nanodevices. Using new approaches, semiconductor structures can be fabricated with sub-nanometer accuracy and precisely controlled electronic and optical properties. The immense technological potential and new exciting physics have stimulated interest in semiconductor nanostructures over several years. This book brings together a single comprehensive overview of recent progress and future directions in nanoscale semiconductor research. Fields ranging from materials science to physics, chemistry, electrical and microelectronic engineering, circuit design, and more, are represented. Topics include: quantum dot theory, growth and optics; single quantum dot spectroscopy; charge and spin; Si/Ge quantum dot structures; bio-quantum dots; electric force microscopy and charge injection; transport; Si nanocrystals and nc-Si superlattices; Si/Ge nanostructures; bioactive nanostructures; lithographic techniques and lateral nanopatterning; semiconductor nanowires and nanotubes; metallic and rare-earth-doped nanoparticles; theoretical studies and numerical simulations in Si/SiGe nanostructures and applications of Group IV nanoscale materials.

A fascinating insight into the state-of-the-art in silicon microphotonics and on what we can expect in the near future. The book presents an overview of the current understanding of getting light from silicon. It concentrates mainly on low dimensional silicon structures, like quantum dots, wires and wells, but covers also alternative approaches like porous silicon and the doping of silicon with rare-earths. The emphasis is on the experimental and theoretical achievements concerning the optoelectronic properties of confined silicon structures obtained during recent years. Silicon based photonic crystals are in particular considered. An in depth discussion of the route towards a silicon laser is presented.