The articles in this book review recent developments in the microscopic theory of optical and electronic semiconductor properties. Many advances in this active field are intimately related to the work of Hartmut Haug and his coworkers. At the occasion of Haug's 60th birthday, a number of current and/or former members of his research team review the current state-of-the-art. Topics include the quantum kinetics of electrons, phonons and photons, coherent optical effects, quantum transport, ballistic motion, microscopic semiconductor laser theory with special emphasis on microlasers, symmetry...