Optical properties, optical materials, optical spectroscopy

Course Description

Categories and applications of optical materials.

Classical view of light and matter interaction: Complex dielectric function and optical parameters of semiconductors, metals, amorphous and molecular materials. Lorentz forced oscillator, Lorentz/Drude, Maxwell’s equations in matter (dispersion relation, existence of longitudinal waves). Boundary conditions (Fresnel equations).

Semiclassical dielectric function theory: Energy bands, quantum mechanical view of dielectric function, density of states, Kramers Kronig relations,

UV/vis absorption/permeability, emission and reflectivity of materials: Interband transitions, Absorption and photoluminescence, excitons, impurities, amorphous materials, free carriers. Applications (photovoltaics, lasers, LEDs, plasmonic devices, organic electronics, etc.). Spectra recording and evaluation.

Infrared absorption/reflectivity and Raman scattering. Vibrations of molecules/molecular materials, lattice dynamics in 1, 2 and 3 dimensions, Reststrahlen band, amorphous materials and materials with impurities. Recording and evaluation of spectra.

FTIR spectroscopy techniques with applications to different kinds of materials

Course Info

Group:  Compulsory

Semester:  Second Semester

Hours / Week:   3

ECTS Units:  5

Instructors:  S. Ves, Τ. Ζorba, Μ. Κatsikini, L. Malletzidou, Κ. Papaggelis