Abstract
The energy and momentum distributions of electrons (or holes) in high electric fields are largely determined by interelectronic collisions if the electron densities are sufficiently high; but at lower densities only the energy distribution is affected. These distributions are used to evaluate the field for which a steady state becomes impossible (breakdown), and to calculate the variation of the mobility (
μ
) with the applied field (
F
). Approximate results, obtained by neglecting interelectronic collisions entirely are also presented. However, it is shown that the latter calculations are really invalid since electrons which, by a fluctuation, achieve energies exceeding a certain critical energy, of order 1 eV, will increase their energy indefinitely under the action of the field. Both acoustic and optical lattice mode scattering are considered for various temperature ranges. Beside the well-established proportionality of
μ
to
F
–½
and to
F
–1
at high temperatures there are regions of field strengths at low temperatures where
μ
varies as
F
–4/5
and
F
–4/3
, respectively.
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