Temperature-and field-dependence of hopping conduction in disordered systems

Abstract

The mechanism of hopping conduction is considered in terms of a simple model based on a four-dimensional quantity, the ‘range’ between two localized states. The familiar T ^−¼ relationship for the conductivity, originally derived by Mott, emerges in a natural way without introducing certain of Mott's simplifying assumptions, and under certain conditions an activation-type dependence results. The effect of an electric field F on T ^−¼-type conductivity is also considered and the analysis produces an exp (AF ²) dependence.