The aim of this book is twofold: it is intended for use as a textbook for a ourse on electronic materials (indeed, it stems from a series of lectures on this topic delivered at Milan Polytechnic and at the universities of Modena and Parma), and as an up-to-date review for scientists working in the field:: >f silicon processing. Although a number of works on silicon are already available, the vast amount of existing and new data on silicon properties are nowhere adequately summarized in a single comprehensive report. The present volume is intended to fill this gap. Most of the examples dealt...