Light-Emitting Diodes

This book covers all aspects of the technology and physics of infrared, visible-spectrum, and white-light-emitting diodes (LEDs) made from III-V semiconductors. It reviews elementary properties of LEDs such as the electrical and optical characteristics, as well as advanced device physics including high-efficiency device designs, light extraction, radiative and non-radiative recombination dynamics, spontaneous recombination in resonant-cavity structures, and packaging. It introduces related areas such as human vision, photometry, colorimetry, and color rendering. Application of infrared and visible-spectrum LEDs in silica fiber, plastic fiber, and free-space communication is discussed. Extensive semiconductor material data, device design data, and analytic formulas governing LED operation are provided. Exercises and illustrative examples are included and an introductory chapter reviews the historical developments and milestones of LED research and development. This textbook will be of interest to scientists and engineers working on LEDs, and to graduate students in electrical engineering, applied physics and materials science.