Photovoltaic Effect in Uniaxially Stressed Germanium

Abstract

The results of a series of experiments undertaken to observe the anisotropic photovoltaic effect in uniaxially compressed germanium are reported, with an account of the experimental techniques employed. The photovoltaic-effect experiments were performed at room temperature with the germanium specimens subjected to stresses up to 2×${10}^9$ dyn/${\mathrm{cm}}^2$. Even for these moderate stresses, photovoltages as large as 75 mV were observed in some cases. The experimental results are compared with those predicted by a recently proposed small-signal ambipolar theory.