Special Tutorial

ICOOPMA 2026 SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Special Tutorial: Fundamentals of Photoconductivity

Lecturer: Distinguished Professor Safa Kasap (University of Saskatchewan)

We are pleased to announce a special tutorial session on Photoconductivity, delivered by the world-renowned authority in optoelectronic materials, Professor Safa Kasap. This masterclass is specially organized for graduate students, researchers, and faculty members interested in the advanced physics and practical applications of semiconductor materials.

Program Schedule (September 16)

September 16 (Wed) – Day 1
13:00 – Registration
16:00 – 17:30 🌟 Special Tutorial: Photoconductivity
Presented by Prof. Safa Kasap
18:00 – Welcome Reception

Lecturer Profile

Prof. Safa Kasap
Distinguished Emeritus Professor | University of Saskatchewan, Canada

Professor Kasap is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, IEEE, and APS. He is globally recognized for his foundational textbooks and pioneering research in direct-conversion X-ray image detectors and optoelectronic materials, successfully bridging the gap between basic materials science and device engineering.

Recommended Textbook & Sample Chapter

Photoconductivity and Photoconductive Materials: Fundamentals, Techniques, and Applications (2-Volume Set)
Published by Wiley (2022) | Edited by Safa Kasap and Peter Capper
👉 Download Free Sample Chapter (Chapter 1: Introduction to Photoconductivity)
👉 View on Wiley Book Page

Abstract

This tutorial first introduces photoconductivity definition, and then the importance of electrical contacts are highlighted by examining the origin of the dark current flowing through a photoconductor. The Shockley-Ramo theorem is explained and the photoconductive gain and the necessary prerequisites for its manifestation are discussed. Major recombination kinetics are addressed, including the Shockley-Read-Hall statistics, Simmons-Taylor formulation, and Langevin recombination, and their main features are highlighted. Photoconductivity experiments have been extensively used by numerous researchers to characterize various semiconductor materials. Principles of steady state, transient (Time-of-Flight) and modulated photoconductivity (frequency-resolved photoconductivity) are introduced along with their main features in extracting material properties, including the density of states in the bandgap. The effects of traps on transient photoconductivity and modulated photoconductivity are discussed in simple terms and extended to include the Taylor-Simmons formulation. The phase and the amplitude of the modulated photocurrent are explained in relation to the density of states in the bandgap. The usefulness of Time-of-Flight Transient Photoconductivity are also outlined with examples.