Statistical Thermodynamics of Semiconductor Alloys is the consideration of thermodynamic properties and characteristics of crystalline semiconductor alloys by the methods of statistical thermodynamics. The topics presented in this book make it possible to solve such problems as calculation of a miscibility gap, a spinodal decomposition range, a short-range order, deformations of crystal structure, and description of the order-disorder transitions. Semiconductor alloys, including doped elemental semiconductors are the basic materials of solid-state electronics. Their structural stability and other characteristics are key to determining the reliability and lifetime of devices, making the investigation of stability conditions an important part of semiconductor physics, materials science, and engineering. This book is a guide to predicting and studying the thermodynamic properties and characteristics of the basic materials of solid-state electronics. Includes a complete and detailed consideration of the cluster variation method (CVM) Provides descriptions of spinodal decomposition ranges of crystalline alloys Presents a representation of thermodynamics characteristics and properties as a miscibility gap by using the different approximations of CVM Covers a unique, detailed consideration of the valence force field model with the complete collection of formulas

This book is intended for scientists, researchers, and graduate students interested in solutions in general, and solutions of metals in particular. Readers are assumed to have a good background in thermodynamics, presented in such books as those cited at the end of Chapter 1, "Thermo dynamic Background." The contents of the book are limited to the solutions of metals + metals, and metals + metalloids, but the results are also appli cable to numerous other types of solutions encountered by metallurgists, materials scientists, geologists, ceramists, and chemists. Attempts have been made to cover each topic in depth with numerical examples whenever necessary. Chapter 2 presents phase equilibria and phase diagrams as related to the thermodynamics of solutions. The emphasis is on the binary diagrams since the ternary diagrams can be understood in terms of the binary diagrams coupled with the phase rule, and the Gibbs energies of mixing. The cal culation of thermodynamic properties from the phase diagrams is not emphasized because such a procedure generally yields mediocre results. Nevertheless, the reader can readily obtain thermodynamic data from phase diagrams by reversing the detailed process of calculation of phase diagrams from thermodynamic data. Empirical rules on phase stability are given in this chapter for a brief and clear understanding of the physical and atomistic factors underlying the alloy phase formation.

Festkorper Probleme XIII: Advances in Solid State Physics is a collection of papers from plenary lectures of the solid states division of the German Physical Society in Munster, on March 19-24, 1973. This collection deals with semiconductor physics, surface phenomena, and surface physics. One paper reviews the findings on experiments on the magnetic, optical, electrical, and structural properties of layer type crystals, particularly metal dichalcogenides. This book then discusses the van der Waals attraction using semi-classical methods to explain the correlation in different atoms. This discussion explains the application of the Schrodinger formalism and the Maxwell equations. One paper also reviews the energy distribution of electrons emitted from solids after ultraviolet radiation or monochromatic X-ray exposure. Another paper reviews the use of clean silicon surfaces associated with electron emitters showing ""negative electron affinity."" A paper then reviews the mechanism of charge-transfer devices, with emphasis on the physics of the transfer processes that happen in surface charge-coupled devices or bulk-charge-couple devices. This compendium will prove useful for materials physicists, scientists, and academicians in the field of advanced physics.