Quantum Processes in Polar Semiconductors and Insulators

In this book the physics and the corresponding theory of processes and reactions of ideal and non-ideal, i. e. , impure polar semiconductors and insulators are discussed and developed. In particular, binary compounds of the type I-VII and the technically interesting II-VIand III-V types are treated. Based on the quantum theoretical microscopic de­ scription of crystals as many-particle systems of electrons and nuclei, a complete deduction is given starting at the microscopic level and fmally obtaining quantities which can be compared to the experiment, i. e. , average equilibrium and non-equilibrium values of quan­ tum statistical reaction kinetic quantities for combined electron, phonon, and photon processes and reactions with and without external fields. At each stage of this deduction the theoretical apparatus is carefully evaluated, in particular the calculation of states, transition probabilities, kinetic equations, etc. In the past decades an enormous amount of scientific information has been produced. Only deductive theory is able to reduce this material by providing structural insights. It is an aim of this book to give this insight within its field. Concerning the literature on polar semi­ conductors and insulators, the greatest part of it deals with isolated problems regardless of the need for a deductive theory. In addition, many papers treat the problems at a phenome­ nological level.