In this chapter, we review the basic fundamentals of semiconductors that will be used throughout the text. Only the fundamental issues that we will need to begin our study of semiconductor devices utilized in computing and telecommunications systems are discussed.

Before we begin our study it is useful to point out how semiconductor devices are instrumental in many applications. In this book we will mainly examine the application of semiconductor devices to computing and telecommunications systems. Specifically, we will examine the primary device used in integrated circuits for digital systems, the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor, MOSFET. The discussion will focus on state-of-the-art MOSFET devices and future approaches that extend conventional MOSFETs and revolutionary approaches that go well beyond MOSFETs. It is expected that computing hardware will continue to improve, providing faster and more powerful computers in the future using either some or all of the techniques discussed here or perhaps using completely new technologies. In any event, there is almost certainly going to be a large growth in computing hardware in order to maintain the pace of computer development and this book will help introduce the student to emerging technologies that may play a role in future computing platforms.

The second major topic of this book involves discussion of semiconductor devices for telecommunications applications. We will examine devices of use in lightwave communications as well as wireless communications networks. Among these devices are emitters, detectors, amplifiers, and repeaters.