A model noise temperature for nonlinear transport in semiconductors

Abstract

We present an analytical modeling of the noise temperature associated with velocity fluctuations obtained in the framework of the linear-response theory around a steady state. The expressions are rigorously related to an eigenvalue expansion of the response matrix and are applicable to ohmic as well as to nonohmic (hot-carrier) conditions. Theory requires as input parameters the reciprocal carrier effective mass, the drift velocity, the carrier energy, the variance of velocity fluctuations, and the covariance of velocity-energy fluctuations as functions of the electric field in stationary and homogeneous conditions. The analytical results obtained for the case of holes in Si and electrons in GaAs at T=300 K are validated by comparison with experiments.