Observations of Electron-Hole Current Pinching in Indium Antimonide

Abstract

The temporal variation at high electric fields of the current and voltage in $n$-type InSb is examined. The observations show the behavior characteristic of self-pinching of the electron-hole plasma current. There is good agreement with theory for the observed times for the pinching process as a function of current. The calculated sum of the average energies of the electrons and holes in the plasma is 0.037 ev. Oscillations in the electric field of apparently different character are observed during the pinch, and when a longitudinal magnetic field is applied.