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by nurspouse 1470 days ago
Semiconductor theory is more interesting, but don't even consider it unless you love math and can do standard integrals without having to look up tables.

Also, the mistake I made when I went to grad school: Semiconductors seemed to be a "new" field compared to the rest of EE. One of my undergrad professors said "They still haven't figured out what a standard textbook should contain."

In reality, from a research standpoint, it's a very mature field. Don't expect low hanging fruit. If you're going to focus on theory, expect it'll take a number of years of dedicated study before you get to the frontier. You'll need to know quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics, and some electromagnetics, just to begin studying semiconductor theory. Then a whole bunch of specialized solid state courses. Then you start studying the specific subtopics (reading key journal papers).

> But later I'd want to work as compiler engineer

Why are you wasting time with semiconductors...?
2 comments
metaphor 1470 days ago
> One of my undergrad professors said "They still haven't figured out what a standard textbook should contain."

At least for the analog domain, Gray et al[1] has been the standard entry-level gateway drug for longer than I care to remember.

[1] https://www.amazon.com/dp/0470245999/

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nurspouse 1470 days ago
This falls more into the electronics domain, which I know is sometimes put under the "semiconductor" bucket, but in universities usually has its own domain ("microelectronics" in my day). It's a lot more focused on the circuit/high frequency model of the transistor, and builds up form it.

Semiconductor theory is more about the transistor and everything below it: Starting from quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics, derive the equations of electron/hole transport in a doped semiconductor, how the material's band structure impacts current flow, etc. The derivation of the transistor equations is often the end point.

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hardware2win 1470 days ago
>Why are you wasting time with semiconductors...?

Because this company does both, so after I get bored with current role and prepare better, then i'll try to switch teams

I didnt and still do not see easier way for me to get into comps (i may be naive), especially that i dont know cpp yet, which seems like must have in compilers world unless you go to e.g msft

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