Effect of high pressure on some hot electron phenomena in n-type germanium

Abstract

The pressure dependence of the current density vs electric field characteristic for n-type germanium at 297 has been measured to a maximum pressure of 30 000 kg/cm2, and to a maximum field of 10 000 v/cm. It is concluded that the electrons are "heated" by the field sufficiently to cause the conduction band valleys along the 100 directions in reduced momentum space to be appreciably populated with electrons at atmospheric pressure. The pressure dependence of the angle ε between current and field at 77K has been measured to a maximum field of 3000 v/cm and a maximum pressure of 5000 kg/cm2. ε is independent of pressure except for a small increase for applied fields of ∼3000 v/cm. Suggested interpretations for the data are given. © 1960 The American Physical Society.