Record |
Author |
Vandenberghe, W.; Sorée, B.; Magnus, W.; Fischetti, M.V. |
Title |
Generalized phonon-assisted Zener tunneling in indirect semiconductors with non-uniform electric fields : a rigorous approach |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
Year |
2011 |
Publication |
Journal of applied physics |
Abbreviated Journal |
J Appl Phys |
Volume |
109 |
Issue |
12 |
Pages |
124503-124503,12 |
Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT) |
Abstract |
A general framework to calculate the Zener current in an indirect semiconductor with an externally applied potential is provided. Assuming a parabolic valence and conduction band dispersion, the semiconductor is in equilibrium in the presence of the external field as long as the electron-phonon interaction is absent. The linear response to the electron-phonon interaction results in a non-equilibrium system. The Zener tunneling current is calculated from the number of electrons making the transition from valence to conduction band per unit time. A convenient expression based on the single particle spectral functions is provided, enabling the evaluation of the Zener tunneling current under any three-dimensional potential profile. For a one-dimensional potential profile an analytical expression is obtained for the current in a bulk semiconductor, a semiconductor under uniform field, and a semiconductor under a non-uniform field using the WKB (Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin) approximation. The obtained results agree with the Kane result in the low field limit. A numerical example for abrupt p-n diodes with different doping concentrations is given, from which it can be seen that the uniform field model is a better approximation than the WKB model, but a direct numerical treatment is required for low bias conditions. |
Address |
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Corporate Author |
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Thesis |
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Publisher |
American Institute of Physics |
Place of Publication |
New York, N.Y. |
Editor |
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Language |
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Wos |
000292331200134 |
Publication Date ![sorted by Publication Date field, ascending order (up)](img/sort_asc.gif) |
2011-06-21 |
Series Editor |
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Series Title |
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Abbreviated Series Title |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
0021-8979; |
ISBN |
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Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
Impact Factor |
2.068 |
Times cited |
41 |
Open Access |
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Notes |
; William Vandenberghe gratefully acknowledges the support of a Ph.D. stipend from the Institute for the Promotion of Innovation through Science and Technology in Flanders (IWT-Vlaanderen). ; |
Approved |
Most recent IF: 2.068; 2011 IF: 2.168 |
Call Number |
UA @ lucian @ c:irua:90808 |
Serial |
1325 |
Permanent link to this record |