The Physics of Phonons

My research work in the 1970's was concentrated on the study of lattice thermal conductivity of insulators and semiconductors, including the following theoretical approaches: Relaxation time methods; Complementary variational principles; Green's function method; and Zwanzig-Mori projection operator method. I have developed a model relaxation time approach for lattice thermal conductivity. This development has been acknowledged by Callaway as one of the leading works in this field after his own pioneering work. I have also developed a method for calculating sequences of complementary variational principles (i.e. a sequence of lower bounds and a sequence of upper bounds) for the problem of lattice thermal conductivity. This is a general method for solving any mathematical problem which can be expressed in the form of a linearised equation of Boltzmann type. My recent interest includes studies of hot-phonon relaxation in semiconductors and quantum wells, an effect which takes place femto-seconds after laser excitation of such systems and are very important in controlling device performance. I have written a post- graduate book entiled
"The Physics of Phonons" , published in 1990 by Adam Hilger (Bristol).

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GP Srivastava

Last modified: Fri Feb 17 17:30:30 1995