VI. The Field-Dependence of Electron Mobility in Germanium

Abstract

The drift velocity of conduction electrons in germanium has been measured as a function of electric field E. Even at fields as low as 100 v cm⁻¹, the velocity increases slightly less than proportionately, and this deviation increases smoothly until, between 4.5 and 9×l0³vcm⁻¹, it becomes independent of E. Above the latter value, the velocity increases nearly as E^0.134 and at 6.3 × 10⁴ v cm⁻¹ avalanche multiplication is observed. No region in which the velocity is proportional to E^1/2 has been observed.