Department of Physics

Subject: Engineering Physics (25PY101)

1. a) Write the draw backs of classical free electron theory and brief the postulates of the
Quantum free electron theory to overcome those drawbacks.
b) What is Fermi-Dirac distribution function and explain its variation of the Fermi-Dirac
distribution function at T=0K and T>OK.
c) Calculate the temperature at which there is 1% probability of finding the electron having
energy more than l eV above the Fermi level2

2. a) What is meant by molar-specific heat? Explain how the classical free electron theory is
failed to explain the electronic specific heat. Elucidate howQuantum free electron theory
is successful in explaining electronic-specific heat by overcoming the failures of the
classical free electron theory.
b) How do you define the Fermi level in an intrinsic semiconductor?

c) Starting from the expressions of electron and hole concentrations and obtain the expression
for the Fermi level of an intrinsic semiconductor.

d) Discuss the Variation of Fermi level in the following cases i) T=OK, ii) m*=m* ii)
m,*>m,* iv) m*<mh*.
3. a) Starting from the expressions of electron and hole concentrations, obtain an expression
for the electrical conductivity of an intrinsic semiconductor.
b) Why Germanium has more conductivity than Gallium Arsenide at all temperatures?
c) Obtain the relation between E and k from the energy of an electron.
d) The conductivity of Ge at 20 °C is 2 (2m). Calculate its conductivity at 40 °C given
the bandgap of Ge is 0.7eV.
4. a) Explain the formation of the depletion region and built-in potential in a p-n junction
diode.
b) Describe the variation of the depletion region and potential barrier in the forward and
reverse bias conditions.
c) Draw the I-V characteristics and label them in forward and reverse bias conditions.

5. a) Distinguish between direct bandgap and indirect bandgap semiconductors with a neat
band diagrams.
 b)What is the principle of a solar cell? How the light energy is converted into electrical
energy using a solar cell?
c) Draw the I-V characteristics and obtain an expression for the Efficiency and Fill factor.
d) A solar cell is having an area of lcm xlcm and the input light power density is
1000W/m'. The efficiency of the solar cell is 11.3%.Calculate the load resistance value
to withdraw a maximum output power when a current of 11.3 mA is flowing in the
circuit.

6. a) Explain the principle of LED

d) Write the applications of LED. A light emitting diode is made of GaAsP having a
bandgap of 19eV, determine the wavelength of the LED.
7. a) What is meant by stimulated emission? Explain the necessity of stimulated emission
in obtaining the properties of LASER.
b) Explicate the essential conditions to obtain a LASER?

c) Elucidate the working of semiconductor LASER with the help of a band diagram.
8 a) Both solar cell and photodiode converts the light energy into electrical energy. What
are the basic differences between them in terms of operation?
b) Describe the working mechanism of photodiode.
c) Draw the I-V characteristics of the photodiode as a function of incident light
intensity.
9. a) Can optical fiber work if core and cladding have the same refractive index? Why or
why not?
b) Derive the expression for numerical aperture of an optical fiber. What happens to NA if
the difference between refractive indices decreases?

c)
n2

(p=30° n=1.5

no
 The light ray is launching from the air to the core medium
which has a refractive index
of 1.5 and the angle refraction is 30° as depicted in the
above figure. Calculate
i) Refractive index of the cladding
ii) Maximum Launching angle or Acceptance angle
iii
Numerical aperture and (iv) Fractional refractive index of the optical
fiber.
10. a) Using an energy level diagram, illustrate and
differentiate between absorption,
spontaneous emission, and stimulated emission processes.
b) Elucidate the concepts of population
inversion and pumping, and discuss their
significance in the operation of a laser,supported with appropriate diagrams.
c) Analyse the construction and working of diode lasers
with its limitations.
d) The wavelength of light emitted from a laser
is 720 nm at room temperature. Determine
the ratio of the population of higher energy state
to lower energy state. How the ratio of the
population is effected, if the temperature is changed from room
temperature to 600 K?