Explaining the physics and characteristics of power semiconductor devices, this book presents an overview of various classes of power semiconductors. It provides insight into how they work and the characteristics of the various components from the viewpoint of the user, going through all modern power semiconductor device types. The physics are explained in reasonable detail, providing the precise amount of information needed to fully understand the component's behavior in the application. Exploring the specific strengths and weaknesses of each device type, the book demonstrates how these devices fit into the system and how they will behave there.