Scattering of Electrons in Crystals in the Presence of Large Electric Fields

Abstract

By the calculation of transitions between states appropriate to electrons moving in a large uniform electric field superimposed on a periodic crystal field, it is shown the probabilities of scattering by lattice vibrations or imperfections are independent of the uniform field and are given by the usual expressions derived for zero field. This justifies the procedure of treating acceleration by the field and scattering as independent processes.