Anomalous Transient Current in Nonuniform Semiconductors

TL;DR

This paper investigates transient phenomena in nonuniform semiconductors where initial charge distributions cause temporary negative currents flowing against the applied voltage, reverting to normal as the system stabilizes.

Contribution

It demonstrates the existence of transient negative electric currents in nonuniform semiconductors and explores their potential practical applications.

Findings

Negative transient current occurs under specific initial charge distributions.

The negative current is a temporary phenomenon during the initial stage.

Current returns to normal as charge density becomes uniform.

Abstract

Nonequilibrium processes in semiconductors are considered with highly nonuniform initial densities of charge carriers. It is shown that there exist such distributions of charge densities under which the electric current through a sample displays quite abnormal behaviour flowing against the applied voltage. The appearance of this negative electric current is a transient phenomenon occurring at the initial stage of the process. After this anomalous negative fluctuation, the electric current becomes normal, i.e. positive as soon as the charge density becomes more uniform. Several possibilities for the practical usage of this effect are suggested.