On the theory of the electric conductivity of solids in a strong electric field

Abstract

Abstract A theory of the electric conductivity is given for a simple semiconductor model in the presence of a strong electric field including both the heating of the charge carriers and the field‐induced change of the density of states. The conductivity is divided into an interband and an interband part. The intraband part defines the field‐dependent plasma frequency. The interband conductivity vanishes in absence of the strong field and shows an exponential growth as the field is increased. The connection of this result with the Zener tunneling of electrons between the valence and the conduction bands is discussed.