Optical Properties of Solids

Course guarantor:

Zdeněk Bryknar, Eva Mihóková

Lecturer:

Kateřina Aubrechtová Dragounová, Zdeněk Bryknar, Eva Mihóková

Tutor:

Eva Mihóková

Supervisor:

Department of Solid State Engineering

Synopsis:

The lecture covers the fundamental principles of light absorption, reflection, luminescence, and propagation in a wide range of materials, including crystalline dielectrics, semiconductors, and metals. The observed phenomena are discussed from the perspectives of both classical and quantum physics, as well as their practical applications.

Requirements:

The exam requires knowledge of the subject matter covered in the lectures. It consists of two parts. In the first part, the student is given one in-depth question (or topic) to discuss; this typically involves the formal formulation of the concepts and/or the derivation of key results. The student is allowed 10 minutes of preparation time. The second part of the exam takes place without preparation and consists of 56 questions requiring brief answers, designed to assess knowledge across the various topics covered in the lectures.

Syllabus of lectures:

1. Interaction of electromagnetic wave with solids

2. Fresnel's equations for isotropic and anisotropic media

3. Optical properties of uniaxial and biaxial crystals, birefringence

4. Phenomenological theory of electrooptical, piezooptical and magnetooptical solids

5. Einstein coefficients

6. Quantum theory of optical absorption and emission, joint density of states

7. Band edge absorption in direct and indirect gap semiconductors, band edge absorption in external electric and magnetic fields, interband absorption above the band edge, semiconductor photodetectors.

8. Wannier (free) excitons and Frenkel (tightly bound) excitons, exciton absorption, free excitons in external fields

9. Luminescence, configuration coordinate diagram, Franck-Condon principle, fluorescence, phosphorescence, luminescence in direct gap and indirect gap materials, photo- and electroluminescence, photoluminescence spectroscopy

10. Quantum confinement effects in low dimensional structures, electronic levels, quantum well absorption and excitons, optical emission

11. Free electrons, plasma reflectivity, DrudeLorentz model, metals, doped semiconductors, plasmons, negative refraction

12. Molecular materials, optical spectra of molecules, conjugated molecules, organic opto-electronics, carbon nanostructures

13. Nonlinear optics, the nonlinear susceptibility tensor, the physical origin of optical nonlinearities, second-order nonlinearities, phase matching.

Syllabus of tutorials:

Study Objective:

To acquire knowledge of the classical theory of light propagation in solids.

To understand the quantum theory of absorption and emission, the importance of excitonic phenomena, and the origin of nonlinear optical effects in crystals. To understand the fundamental principles of absorption, reflection, luminescence, and light propagation in a wide range of materialsincluding crystalline dielectrics, semiconductors, and metalsand to become familiar with their applications in modern technical practice.

Study materials:

Key references:

[1] Born, M. and Wolf, E. (2006), Principles of optics (7th edn), Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

[2] Fox, M. (2012), Optical properties of solids (2nd edn), Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Recommended references:

[3] Kittel, Ch. (2004), Introduction to Solid State Physics, (8th edn), Wiley.

[4] Ibach, H., Lüth, H. (2009), An Introduction to Principles of Materials Science, Springer.

[5] Burns, G. (1985), Solid State Physics, Academic Press.

Note:

Time-table for winter semester 2025/2026:

Time-table is not available yet

Time-table for summer semester 2025/2026:

Time-table is not available yet

The course is a part of the following study plans: