This book assesses the capabilities of state-of-the-art optical techniques in elucidating the fundamental electronic and structural properties of semiconductor and metal surfaces, interfaces, thin layers, and layer structures. It also examines the usefulness of these techniques for optimization of high quality multilayer samples through feedback control during materials growth and processing. Emphasis is given to dynamical processes through the use of pump-probe techniques, together with the search for new optical sources. Some new applications of scanning probe microscopy to materials science and biological samples (dried and in vivo) with the use of different laser sources are also presented.

"This special volume of World Scientific contains the Proceedings of the 7th Epioptics Workshop held in the Ettore Majorana Foundation and Centre for Scientific Culture, Erice, Sicily, from July 20 to 26, 2002. The Workshop was the 7th in the Epioptics series and the 24th of the International School of Solid State Physics"--P. v.

The book is aimed at assessing the capabilities of state-of-the-art optical techniques in elucidating the fundamental electronic and structural properties of semiconductor and metal surfaces, interfaces, thin layers, and layer structures, and assessing the usefulness of these techniques for optimization of high quality multilayer samples through feedback control during materials growth and processing. Particular emphasis is placed on the theory of non-linear optics and dynamical processes through the use of pump-probe techniques together with the search for new optical sources. Some new applications of Scanning Probe Microscopy to Material science and biological samples, dried and in vivo, with the use of different laser sources are also presented. Materials of special interest are silicon, semiconductor-metal interfaces, semiconductor and magnetic multi-layers and III-V compound semiconductors.

The book is aimed at assessing the capabilities of state-of-the-art optical techniques in elucidating the fundamental electronic and structural properties of semiconductor and metal surfaces, interfaces, thin layers, and layer structures, and assessing the usefulness of these techniques for optimization of high quality multilayer samples through feedback control during materials growth and processing. Particular emphasis is dedicated to the theory of nonlinear optics and to dynamical processes through the use of pump-probe techniques together with the search for new optical sources. Some new applications of Scanning Probe Microscopy to Material Science and biological samples, dried and in vivo, with the use of different laser sources are also presented. Materials of particular interest are silicon, semiconductor-metal interfaces, semiconductor and magnetic multi-layers and III-V compound semiconductors.

This special volume contains the proceedings of the 9th Epioptics Workshop, held at the Ettore Majorana Foundation and Centre for Scientific Culture, Erice, Sicily, from July 20 to 26, 2006. The workshop was the 9th in the Epioptics series and the 39th of the International School of Solid State Physics.The workshop was aimed at assessing the capabilities of state-of-the-art optical techniques in elucidating the fundamental electronic and structural properties of semiconductor and metal surfaces, interfaces, thin layers, and layer structures, and at assessing the usefulness of these techniques for optimization of high-quality multilayer samples through feedback control during materials growth and processing. Particular emphasis is dedicated to the theory of non-linear optics and to dynamical processes through the use of pump-probe techniques together with the search for new optical sources. Some new applications of scanning probe microscopy to material science and biological samples, dried and in vivo, with the use of different laser sources are also presented.

This volume contains the proceedings of the 8th Epioptics Workshop, held at the Ettore Majorana Foundation and Centre for Scientific Culture, Erice, Sicily. The book assesses the capabilities of state-of-the-art optical techniques in elucidating the fundamental electronic and structural properties of semiconductor and metal surfaces, interfaces, thin layers, and layer structures. The contributions consider the usefulness of these techniques for optimization of high quality multilayer samples through feedback control during materials growth and processing. Particular emphasis is placed on the theory of non-linear optics and on dynamical processes through the use of pump-probe techniques together with the search for new optical sources. Some new applications of Scanning Near-field Optical Microscopy to material science and biological samples, dried and in vivo, with the use of different laser sources are also included.

The book is aimed at assessing the capabilities of state-of-the-art optical techniques in elucidating the fundamental electronic and structural properties of semiconductor and metal surfaces, interfaces, thin layers, and layer structures, and assessing the usefulness of these techniques for optimization of high quality multilayer samples through feedback control during materials growth and processing. Particular emphasis is placed on the theory of non-linear optics and dynamical processes through the use of pump-probe techniques together with the search for new optical sources. Some new applications of Scanning Probe Microscopy to Material science and biological samples, dried and in vivo, with the use of different laser sources are also presented. Materials of special interest are silicon, semiconductor-metal interfaces, semiconductor and magnetic multi-layers and III-V compound semiconductors.