GUNN EFFECT IN COMPOUND SEMICONDUCTORS
Abstract
A theoretical and experimental study of the Gunn effect is presented. It appears that this effect, originally observed by Gunn as a time variation in the current through ohmic samples of n-GaAs when the sample voltage exceeded a critical value, can be accounted for by the transferred electron model of Ridley and Watkins. This model is based on a transfer of electrons from a low-mass, high-mobility conduction band that is lowest in energy to a higher-mass, low- mobility band as the electron temperature is increased by the applied electric field. If the transfer occurs rapidly enough as the electric field is increased, a bulk differential negative resistance will be realized, which then leads to the formation of domains of different electrical conductivity which move through the sample, giving rise to a time-varying current. The Gunn effect was also observed in n-CdTe, and resistance vs hydrostatic pressure experiments show that the transferred electron model is a reasonable explanation for this material as well. Finally, the absence of an instability in n-InSb and n-InAs is shown to be consistent with the transferred electron model.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 07, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0630194
Entities
People
- Arthur G. Foyt Jr.
Organizations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology