Appealing analogies for aiding student´s assimilation of some key physical concepts related to semiconductor devices

Appealing analogies are proposed to elucidate two important fundamental topics related to semiconductor devices, namely the carrier scattering in a crystal and the derivation of the diffusion capacitance of a p-n junction. The motion of an electron in a semiconductor crystal, according to Schrodinger´s wave equation, is likened to that of a photon in a dielectric medium, such as glass, as per Maxwell´s electromagnetic wave equations. A circuit analogy is given to clarify and contrast quasistatic and rigorous techniques of deriving the diffusion capacitance of a p-n junction. The analogies capture all aspects of these topics, highlight the important fundamental issues that may escape an average student´s notice, and remove any confusion that may exist in the student´s mind because of different and partial treatments of the topics in existing textbooks. Exposure to these and other analogies also plays a role in developing analogical reasoning among students who may pursue research