# Drift velocity in semiconductor

• unscientific
In summary: Is this still true if the hole and electron have the same effective mass?Yes, the effective mass is irrelevant, because the energy of the hole is always greater than the energy of the electron.
unscientific

## Homework Statement

[/B]
(a) Explain the terms intrinsic, extrinsic, mobility and effective mass in semiconductors
(b) What is a hole and explain its mass and charge
(c) Why is mobility of holes often less than mobility of electrons? Find the number density of holes and electrons
(d) Find the mobility of the metal
(e) Find the drift velocities of electrons in the metal and germanium

Only major problem I have is part (e).

## The Attempt at a Solution

Part(a)[/B]
Intrinsic: No impurities, density of holes = density of electrons
Extrinsic: Impurities present, N-doping or P-doping
Mobility: Ease of movement of electrons and holes through semiconductor ##\mu = \frac{v}{E}##.
Effective mass: mass near the bottom of Conduction band or top of valence band

Part(b)
A hole is an absence of an electron. It has opposite charge, and opposite velocity to the electron, since overall charge must be conserved. It has the same effective mass of electrons, due to conservation of momentum.

Part(c)
Holes are surrounded by a sea of bounded electrons in the valence band whereas free electrons are not as exposed in the conduction band due to the absence of states. So it is easier for free electrons to move around inhibited compared to holes.

Using ##J = nev = \sigma E##, we have ##\frac{v}{E} = \frac{\sigma}{ne} = \frac{1}{ne\rho}##.
$$n_e = \frac{1}{e \rho \mu_e} = 6.94 \times 10^{19} m^{-3}$$
$$n_h = \frac{1}{e \rho \mu_h} = 3.47 \times 10^{19} m^{-3}$$

Part(d)
The number density for this metal is ##n = \frac{N}{a^3} = \frac{4}{a^3} = 8.57 \times 10^{28} m^{-3}##.
$$\mu_{metal} = 4.28 \times 10^{-3}$$

It seems that the mobility in this metal is about 100 times less than the mobility in germanium.

Part(e)
Since ##v_d = \mu E##, for a given mobility the drift velocity is dependent on electric field. But since the electric field is ##E = \frac{V}{l}##, if we do not know the length of the metal, how could we figure out the voltage or eletric field across it? Surely an infinitely long metal would dominate the voltage across it than the germanium.

$$v = \mu E = \mu \left(\frac{V}{l}\right)\left( \frac{\rho l}{A} \right) = \frac{\mu V \rho}{A}$$

Can't find the drift velocity without knowing it's voltage across it, which I need to know its length to figure out its resistance to figure out its voltage across it by the potential divider principle.

The mobility of electrons in the metal should be much better than the mobility in germanium. How did you calculate the value?

(e) You can calculate the current flow through the germanium (assuming the resistance of the metal wires is very small in comparison). That allows to find the drift voltage in the metal.

unscientific said:
Holes are surrounded by a sea of bounded electrons in the valence band whereas free electrons are not as exposed in the conduction band due to the absence of states.
Free electrons are surrounded by empty states ("bound holes"), free holes are surrounded by filled states. Where is the difference?

mfb said:
The mobility of electrons in the metal should be much better than the mobility in germanium. How did you calculate the value?

(e) You can calculate the current flow through the germanium (assuming the resistance of the metal wires is very small in comparison). That allows to find the drift voltage in the metal.

Free electrons are surrounded by empty states ("bound holes"), free holes are surrounded by filled states. Where is the difference?

$$\mu = \frac{1}{n e\rho} = \frac{1}{(8.57 \times 10^{28})(1.6 \times 10^{-19})(1.7 \times 10^{-8})} = 4.28 \times 10^{-3}$$So we assume that the potential difference across germanium is ##2V##. Using that, we find the current using ##I = \frac{V}{R}##. Assuming current in metal is same in germanium, using ##I = nevA## we can find the drift velocity in the metal.

Last edited:
mfb said:
Free electrons are surrounded by empty states ("bound holes"), free holes are surrounded by filled states. Where is the difference?

If the electron and hole have the same effective mass, why would electrons have higher mobility?

Ah, forget my comment about electron mobility, sorry.

unscientific said:
So we assume that the potential difference across germanium is ##2V##. Using that, we find the current using ##I = \frac{V}{R}##. Assuming current in metal is same in germanium, using ##I = nevA## we can find the drift velocity in the metal.
Right.
unscientific said:
If the electron and hole have the same effective mass, why would electrons have higher mobility?
Why do you expect the same effective mass?

mfb said:
Ah, forget my comment about electron mobility, sorry.

Right.
Why do you expect the same effective mass?

Consider for an electron near bottom of conduction band:
$$E' = E_0 + \alpha |k-k_{min}|^2 + \cdots$$
$$\alpha = \frac{1}{2} \frac{\partial^2 E}{\partial k^2} = \frac{\hbar^2}{2m^{*}}$$

Similarly for a hole, near the top of a valence band:
$$E' = E_0 - \alpha |k_{max}-k|^2 + \cdots$$
$$\alpha = -\frac{1}{2} \frac{\partial^2 E}{\partial k^2} = \frac{\hbar^2}{2m^{*}}$$

My book says that a hole is at the highest possible energy while the electron is at the lowest possible energy configuration, and that driving a hole away from the maximum is like "pushing a balloon under water". I suppose that is why the mobility of electrons is higher?

## 1. What is drift velocity in semiconductor?

Drift velocity in semiconductor refers to the average velocity of free electrons or holes in a semiconductor material under the influence of an external electric field.

## 2. How is drift velocity calculated?

Drift velocity can be calculated by dividing the applied electric field by the mobility of the charge carriers in the semiconductor.

## 3. What factors affect the drift velocity in semiconductor?

The drift velocity in semiconductor is affected by factors such as the magnitude of the applied electric field, the type and concentration of impurities in the material, and the temperature.

## 4. Why is drift velocity important in semiconductor devices?

Drift velocity is important in semiconductor devices because it determines the speed at which charge carriers move through the material, and therefore affects the overall performance and efficiency of the device.

## 5. How does drift velocity differ from diffusion velocity?

Drift velocity and diffusion velocity are two different mechanisms by which charge carriers move in a semiconductor. While drift velocity is caused by an external electric field, diffusion velocity is due to the concentration gradient of the charge carriers. Additionally, drift velocity is much larger than diffusion velocity in most cases.

Replies
1
Views
893
Replies
1
Views
1K
Replies
4
Views
1K
Replies
7
Views
1K
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
7
Views
10K
Replies
1
Views
1K
Replies
3
Views
2K
• High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
3
Views
909
• Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
1
Views
1K
{"found_math": true, "script_math_tex": 0, "script_math_asciimath": 0, "math_annotations": 0, "math_alttext": 0, "mathml": 0, "mathjax_tag": 0, "mathjax_inline_tex": 0, "mathjax_display_tex": 1, "mathjax_asciimath": 0, "img_math": 0, "codecogs_latex": 0, "wp_latex": 0, "mimetex.cgi": 0, "/images/math/codecogs": 0, "mathtex.cgi": 0, "katex": 0, "math-container": 0, "wp-katex-eq": 0, "align": 0, "equation": 0, "x-ck12": 0, "texerror": 0}