Electronic phenomena in semi-conductors with a temperature gradient

Abstract

Phenomena connected with the transfer of current carrier concentrations as a result of a temperature gradient in semi-conductors with two kinds of current carriers are theoretically studied. The paper first deals with the general equations which are valid at a certain point of the semi-conductor with a temperature gradient for the concentrations of current carriers and density of electric and thermal current. From this the distribution of the concentrations of current carriers is found for a typical case, the phenomenon of thermal emission of minority current carriers is discussed, relations are derived for the dependence of the thermal emf on the magnitude of the temperature gradient, the possibility is discussed of thermal rectification and equations are given for the thermal conductivity of a semi-conductor with non-equilibrium concentrations of current carriers.