An Intermittent Generation–Recombination Process as a Possible Origin of 1/f Fluctuations in Semiconductor Materials

Abstract

Inspired by the phenomenon of fluorescence intermittency in quantum dots and other materials, we introduce small off-states (intermissions) which interrupt the generation and recombination (= [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text]) process in a semiconductor material. If the remaining on-states are power-law distributed, we find an almost pure 1/[Formula: see text] spectrum. Besides well-known [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] noise, we obtain two 1/[Formula: see text] noise components which can be attributed to the intermittent generation and recombination process. These components can be given the form of Hooge's relation with a Hooge coefficient [Formula: see text] describing the contribution of the generation and recombination process, respectively. Herein, the coefficients [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] describe impact of intermissions which in general are different for the generation and recombination process. The impact of [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] noise on 1/[Formula: see text] noise is comprised in the coefficient [Formula: see text] for the generation and [Formula: see text] for the recombination process. These coefficients are specified for an intrinsic and a slightly extrinsic semiconductor as well as for a semiconductor with traps; for the latter, the temperature dependence of 1/[Formula: see text] noise is also investigated. 1/[Formula: see text] noise is shown to be inversely related to the number of neutral and ionized [Formula: see text]-atoms rather than to the number of conduction electrons as defined in Hooge's relation. As a possible origin of 1/[Formula: see text] noise in semiconductors, electron–phonon scattering is suggested.