Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos in Semiconductors

The field of nonlinear dynamics and low-dimensional chaos has developed rapidly over the past twenty years. The principal advances have been in theoretical aspects but more recent applications in a wide variety of the sciences have been made. Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos in Semiconductors is the first book to concentrate on specific physical and experimental situations in semiconductors as well as examine how to use chaos theory to explain semiconductor phenomena. Written by a well-respected researcher of chaos in semiconductors, Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos in Semiconductors provides a rich and detailed account of progress in research on nonlinear effects in semiconductor physics. Discussing both theory and experiment, the author shows how this powerful combination has lead to real progress with difficult nonlinear problems in this technologically important field. Nonlinear carrier dynamics, caused by low-temperature impact ionization avalanche of impurities in extrinsic semiconductors, and the emergence of intractable chaos are treated in detail. The book explores impact ionization models, linear stability analysis, bifurcation theory, fractal dimensions, and various analytical methods in chaos theory. It also describes spatial and spatiotemporal evolution of the current density filament formed by the impact ionization avalanche.