Hot Electrons in SiO2

Abstract

The experimentally determined drift velocity of excess electrons in $a$-Si${\mathrm{O}}_2$ as a function of field is reported. Saturation of the velocity-field curve above ${10}^7$ cm/sec provides evidence for phonon emission by significantly heated electrons. The data provide the first test of, and good agreement with, the Thornber and Feynman theory of electron energy loss in polar materials at high applied fields.