Energy-loss mechanisms of hot electrons in n-InSb

Abstract

Energy-loss mechanisms of hot electrons are studied in n-InSb at low temperatures (TL<50K) by magnetophonon and resistivity ( rho ) measurements. Two kinds of magnetophonon measurements of the '2TA' and 'impurity' series, at TL=10K for various electric fields (E) and at a low E for TL=10-20K, provide the 'electron temperature' Te as a function of E. The results are compared with those determined from Miyazawa's method (1969) utilising rho (E) and rho (TL) data, and a noticeable difference is found at higher E. Resonant cooling of hot electrons due to the pair emission of the TA phonon is found. The energy-transfer rate deduced from rho (E,TL) data shows a significant deviation from the theoretical calculations assuming acoustic phonon scattering via piezoelectric and deformation potential couplings, and polar LO phonon scattering.