This book reviews nonlinear optical properties and many-body phenomena evoked by high densities of quasi-particles in semiconductors. Coherent dynamics and relaxation of optical excitations (carriers, excitons, electron–hole plasmas, etc.) as well as condensation phenomena are elucidated in these materials. A broad overview is provided of seminal research results augmented by detailed descriptions of the relevant experimental techniques, e.g., ultrafastspectroscopy, four-wave mixing, and the Hanbury-Brown and Twiss experiment. Offering a comprehensive introduction to hot topics in current research — polariton condensates, valley coherence, and single photons, to name a few, it also discusses applications of the described physical concepts in topical areas, such as quantum information, photonics, spintronics, and optoelectronics.

Covering subjects ranging from physics to materials science and optoelectronics, the book provides a lively and comprehensive introduction to semiconductor optics beyond the linear regime.

With many problems, chapter introductions, schematic depictions of physical phenomena, as well as boxed inserts and a detailed index, it is suitable for use in graduate courses in physics and neighboring sciences like material science and optical communication. It is also a valuable reference resource for doctoral and advanced researchers.