Field screening kinetics in insulating crystals

Abstract

A number of studies has been recently performed on MDSDM (metal-dielectric-semiconductor-dielectric-metal) structures, used for radiation modulation [1], efficiency enhancement of luminescent devices [2], and other purposes. In view of the promise of field modulation methods of the nonequilibrium carrier concentration, the study of processes occurring in insulating crystals under a voltage is of considerable practical interest. The charge carrier distribution at constant applied voltage was studied in [3] for the equilibrium case. In this paper we consider field screening kinetics in MDSDM structures for a linearly growing external voltage. It is interesting to consider triangular pulses, since in this case the quasistationary screening regime may be achieved [4, 5]. In particular, optimal conditions for the existence of a polarization cooling effect^* can be realized precisely in this case. The results obtained can serve as a basis for studying more complicated pulses.