Quantum theory of impact ionization in coherent high-field semiconductor transport

Wolfgang Quade, Eckehard Schöll, Fausto Rossi, and Carlo Jacoboni
Phys. Rev. B 50, 7398 – Published 15 September 1994
PDFExport Citation

Abstract

Generation of carriers in semiconductors by impact ionization is studied under the influence of a constant, arbibrarily high electric field. Using the density-matrix approach a system of equations for the coherent dynamics of electrons and holes in the presence of impact ionization and Auger recombination is derived, which extends the semiconductor Bloch equations by the inclusion of impact-ionization density-correlation functions as additional dynamic variables. From these equations we recover the pure (Zener) and the photon-induced (Franz-Keldysh) carrier tunneling rate and derive an expression for the field-assisted impact-ionization scattering rate. Different levels of approximation of the kinetic equations are discussed. It is shown that in contrast to the semiclassical treatment in the presence of an electric field, a fixed impact-ionization threshold does no longer exist, and the impact-ionization scattering rate is drastically enhanced around the semiclassical threshold by the intracollisional field effect. The close connection of field-assisted impact ionization to the Franz-Keldysh effect is emphasized.

  • Received 13 April 1994

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.50.7398

©1994 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Wolfgang Quade and Eckehard Schöll

  • Institut für Theoretische Physik, Technische Universität, 10623 Berlin, Germany

Fausto Rossi

  • Fachbereich Physik und Zentrum für Materialwissenschaften, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Renthof 5, 35032 Marburg, Germany

Carlo Jacoboni

  • Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Modena, I-41100 Modena, Italy

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 50, Iss. 11 — 15 September 1994

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review B

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×